Gżira United defender Gabriel Bohrer Mentz has been granted Maltese citizenship and is now eligible to represent the Malta national team as from next year, the Premier League club announced in a statement.
The Brazilian defender has been residing and playing in Maltese football for the past five years and that made him eligible to apply for Maltese citizenship.
“After having satisfied the relative criteria, Gżra United senior team player Gabriel Bohrer Mentz has been granted Maltese citizenship and will now be eligible for national team selection and as per MFA rules will be considered a home-grown player as from January 1, 2025.
“We wish Gabriel more successful seasons with our club.”
Mentz is the latest overseas player plying his trade in the Premier League, awarded a Maltese passport over the years.
Among the Maltese naturalised players are his fellow Gżira team-mates Enrico Pepe and Marcelo Dias, and Floriana’s Matias Garcia.
Given that Mentz will be considered a home-grown player from January 1, 2025, he will be ineligible to represent Malta in the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Moldova, next month, and Andorra in November.
But he will be in line to be included in the squad from next year when the national team will be involved in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
