UPDATES: Miranda, Willian, Douglas Costa and Brazil's best performers in 2015

With the International year having come to an end, throughout December CBGT are looking back at 2015 on the road with the Selecao

The year has drawn to an end for Brazil as they continue to work towards World Cup redemption at Russia 2018.

Over the last 12 months we have seen coach Dunga hand debuts and returns to faces both new and old. Some of have clawed their way back from the international wilderness to become regulars once again, while others have taken the first steps in what they hope will be a long and prosperous career with the Selecao.

Throughout December Chevrolet Brasil Global Tour will be looking back at another year with the Selecao. Below, we take a closer look at the individuals who starred for the five-time world champions in 2015.

ALISSON - GOALKEEPER (INTERNACIONAL)

Internacional goalkeeper Alisson began 2015 desperate to cement his place in the under-23 squad that Dunga will lead into the Rio Olympics in 2016. Not in his wildest dreams did he believe his year would end with him as first-choice for the senior team.

But no.1 he is. An injury to Marcelo Grohe, who started against Costa Rica and USA, left Alisson next in line after Jefferson was dropped following Brazil’s defeat in their opening World Cup qualifier against Chile.

He came in for the victory over Venzuela and remained for the draw with Argentina, making a number of important stops against the Selecao’s great rivals, and for the win over Peru. And now the no.1 jersey is his to lose.

DANI ALVES - DEFENDER (BARCELONA)

Dani Alves would have been forgiven for thinking his Brazil career was over. With just a week to go until the Copa America, he hadn’t earned a single call-up during the first 12 months of Dunga’s reign.

The coach was highly critical of the lack of defensive stability he and Marcelo had provided the team during last year’s World Cup and Real Madrid’s Danilo had taken over the mantel. But with less than a week to go before tournament kick off in Chile, Danilo was injured in the Chevrolet Brasil Global Tour friendly with Mexico and Dani Alves was handed a surprise return.

He has since started every match aside from the victories over Costa Rica and USA, for which he was injured, and appears set to continue to star for his country in 2016.

MIRANDA - DEFENDER (INTER)

Miranda was a controversial omission from Luiz Felipe Scolari’s squad that went to the World Cup last year, but he has been Dunga’s most consistent defender ever since.

The level of admiration he has earned from his coach was evident from September onwards when the 31-year-old was handed the captain’s armband for the four matches six matches Neymar missed due to a red card suffered at Copa America.

Nobody can better his record of 17 full 90-minutes appearances since Dunga took charge of the team and the only talking point regarding Brazil’s central defence is who exactly should partner Miranda.

WILLIAN - MIDFIELDER (CHELSEA)

2015 saw the Chelsea midfielder become the general of the Brazilian midfield, becoming arguably the Selecao’s best player since the World Cup – certainly one of the most consistent. Rarely does an attack in Dunga’s side start at anyone else’s feet.

Dynamic, skilful, versatile, and willingness to track back and help out his defenders has also helped persuade Dunga to reinstall Dani Alves, who the coach previously considered too attack-minded for his back four.

The 27-year-old is no indispensable for both club and country and the previous 12 months have seen him emerge as one of the best players in world football.

DOUGLAS COSTA - FORWARD (BAYERN MUNICH)

Douglas Costa has made a habit of making a great impact whenever called upon, coming off the bench to net the Selecao’s last-minute winner against Peru in the Copa America opener earlier this year, and doing the same last month to create the equaliser against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

But he isn’t likely to be kept waiting to make such grand entrances in 2016. A revelation in Germany since making a summer switch to Bayern Munich, the last few months have also seen his progression from talented prospect to automatic starter on the international scene.

The year began with him on the fringes of the Brazil team – it ended with his best performance in a Brazil shirt yet.