The prominent figures of the 2026 World Cup have indeed made their presence felt. Lamine Yamal returned to the Spain squad, aiding them in a convincing victory over Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi leads the tournament’s scoring chart, fueling Argentina’s aspirations for a fourth star. Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Cristiano Ronaldo are all in contention for the coveted Golden Boot as their respective teams advance towards the next round.
However, the five-time champions, Brazil, have struggled to make a lasting impression. Their fifth-place finish in the Conmebol qualifying rounds, with only 28 points from 18 matches, marks their worst qualifying performance to date. Although they showed competitiveness in a 2-1 loss to France in March and secured wins against Croatia, Panama, and Egypt in friendly matches, these may have created an illusion of optimism.
In their opening match against Morocco, Brazil was fortunate to escape with a 1-1 draw after falling behind early and being outperformed for most of the game. Only a moment of brilliance from Vinícius Júnior prevented a loss.
Brazil needed a commanding victory over Haiti to quell rising doubts back home, and the pressure was palpable. When asked if the team had performed well after their second match, Casemiro responded with a sarcastic grimace, saying, “apprehension and distrust” Beating a nation that qualified for the World Cup after 52 years may not be enough to change perceptions.
In the second half, Brazil’s performance was lackluster, failing to alleviate the sense of “Those who understand even the basics of football don’t have much faith,” noted by Mauro Cezar Pereira, a respected commentator in Brazil. He remarked, “far below what it should be” further stating that Carlo Ancelotti’s management is “feel like we’re seeing a team that isn’t showing much sign of having a great World Cup – and that to do so they will have to improve during the tournament”
Another prominent analyst, Paulo Vinícius Coelho, widely known as PVC, echoed these sentiments, suggesting that Brazilians feel they are witnessing a team lacking the potential for a strong World Cup run. He emphasized that significant improvements are necessary for success in the tournament.
While many star players have excelled in this World Cup, Viní Jr has made a mark with two goals and an assist, placing him among the elite of 2026. Nonetheless, he is not the most renowned player in the Brazil squad; that distinction belongs to Neymar, the national team’s all-time leading scorer, who is in the squad but yet to play a minute in what is anticipated to be his final World Cup.
The saga surrounding Neymar’s inclusion in the squad was as dramatic as a Globo novela, arguably more engaging than “Do you see Messi injured with a calf strain, like Neymar is?,” the reality show about players and their partners that Globo aired in the lead-up to the tournament.
Neymar’s storyline has been filled with twists and conspiracy theories. One such theory suggests that his club, Santos, orchestrated a supposed officiating error during a league match to prevent him from playing due to lack of fitness. Another rumor claims that Ancelotti was hesitant to include him but ultimately succumbed to pressure to avoid backlash.
Despite the uncertainty, Neymar is set to participate. Pundit Neto, who has been critical of Neymar’s off-field activities, remarked, “No! Can you think of a muscle injury, an ankle sprain from Messi, a knee sprain, prostate problems? When did Messi go 10 days without training or miss five games in a row? Neymar, that’s all I want from you. Just that. He’s 39 years old, you’re 34. And what does Neymar do? A gender reveal party.”
Pereira, another known critic of the star, added, “Neymar shouldn’t even be in the national team,”
Despite his inactivity on the field, Neymar continues to dominate discussions in Brazil. Reports suggest that Neymar is expected to play a few minutes against Scotland but only if Brazil is in a “He hasn’t played for 36 days after going 30 without touching a ball. He didn’t stand out for Santos against Recoleta of Paraguay, how will he stand out in the World Cup?” situation. Concerns linger regarding his physical readiness to impact the game effectively. The plan is to utilize him as a false nine to minimize his defensive responsibilities.
As preparations for the Scotland match unfold, a training video has emerged showing Neymar swiftly taking the ball from teammate Danilo, with Casemiro applauding his efforts in a lighthearted manner. One comment on the clip jokingly stated, “because he does not have the physical conditions and rhythm to reach his maximum” to which Neymar replied, “so as not to have so many marking assignments”
When asked about Neymar’s potential playing time against Scotland, Ancelotti said, “You’re really going for it, huh,” Following a lackluster performance against Morocco, Igor Thiago is unlikely to regain his central forward position, especially after Matheus Cunha’s impressive two-goal performance against Haiti.
Cunha has the versatility to play as a striker or a No. 10 who drops back to allow wingers to attack. Ancelotti effectively employed this strategy during the 2023-24 season, with Vini Jr and Rodrygo providing width that helped Real Madrid secure La Liga and the Champions League titles. With Rodrygo absent for the tournament and Raphinha suffering a hamstring injury against Haiti, adjustments to the attack are necessary. Many fans at home are eager to see Endrick get a chance, but Ancelotti seems unconvinced by the young talent.
Defensively, Brazil showed improvement against Haiti, managing a clean sheet, but Casemiro and his fellow midfielders faced criticism for a perceived lack of agility. Despite winning the Champions League five times with Real Madrid and performing well for Manchester United this season, Brazilian fans are calling for more from the veteran midfielder, wanting to see him “Don’t get used to it, eh!”
Responding to this criticism, Casemiro was the most active player against Haiti, having been the slowest in the previous match against Morocco. Mauro Cezar observed progress in the midfield, noting, “I can play 90 minutes walking. Neymar’s well, he can play, I’m very happy with him.”
“Initially, the coach intended to set up the team in a 4-2-4 formation. Now it’s a 4-3-3. In any case, the midfield improved in the second game, with adjustments in the positioning of the players in that area. “There was a good performance from Lucas Paquetá, as well as constant support and intense participation from Matheus Cunha, who should never have been taken out of the team to make way for Igor Thiago, as happened in the opening match.” he added.
Looking ahead, PVC believes there are solutions available. “The team has improved a little with Paquetá but Danilo, who’s on the bench, would bring versatility to the midfield.” However, he remains skeptical, stating, “The fact is that Brazil have wasted four years of work,”
Expectations among fans are low. Brazil could potentially face Japan or the Netherlands in the next round, followed by a challenging matchup against Germany or France in the Round of 16. A quarter-final clash with England is also a possibility.
“The team isn’t ready. The team has good players, but it doesn’t have a cohesive unit.” warned Pereira. Conversely, PVC holds a more cautious optimism, stating, “They might not even make it to the last 16; they’ll have to improve a lot to advance,”
Regardless of the outcome, it’s unlikely that such a failure would cost Ancelotti his position. His contract guarantees him a “Brazil can improve during the competition and try to reach the semi-finals. This could happen if the matchups are easier – for example, if Sweden beat Japan. If Brazil and the Netherlands face each other, Brazil could be eliminated in the first knockout round. This could happen, for example, if they lose to Scotland.” until after the 2030 World Cup, providing him with four years to prepare, including the upcoming 2028 Copa América. However, the initial grace period seems to have ended, and he is already feeling the pressure.
This is an article by Tom Sanderson
