Lazio midfielder Lucas Leiva rose to national team prominence when he captained the Brazilian u-20 team to win the 2007 edition of the South American Youth tournament. Lucas Leiva scored four goals during the team and was in line to lead his country to the 2007 FIFA u-20 World Cup in Canada until injury forced him to pull out of the squad. The ex-Liverpool defensive midfielder was named in the Brazilian squad for the first time ahead of the friendlies against Al-Kuwait FC of Kuwait and Ecuador in October 2006 as one of the two non-Europe based players. Lucas Leiva was the youngest member of that Brazil squad and he made his debut as a second half substitute.

His appearance didn't count since it was not an official game. His first official cap for the Selecao came against the Desert Foxes of Algeria during an international friendly played in August 2007. He was then named as part of the Brazil squad to the football tournament of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Brazil reached the semi-finals in Beijing before Lucas Leiva received a red card for a foul on Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano, who was his teammate at Liverpool. Argentina beat Brazil 3-0 to advance into the final and also won the final by beating Nigeria 1-0. Lucas Leiva was recalled to the Brazil squad in the place of then Flamengo player Kleberson in August 2009. The 34-year-old missed out on the squad to the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament in South Africa but was back for the 2011 edition of the Copa America. In total, Lucas Leiva made 24 appearances for his country.