After Brazil's 3-0 victory over Haiti closed in a rather quiet atmosphere, a special scene appeared outside the press conference room of Lincoln Financial Field. While names like Matheus Cunha or Vinicius Junior did not create too much attention, the appearance of legends like Romario, Bebeto, Rivaldo and Kaka made the entire media area bustling.
The former World Cup champions are not only attractive because of their reputation, but also remind of a period when Brazil was a real nightmare of world football. They represent the image of a magical Selecao, where genius moments can decide the match in just a moment.
That is also what the current Brazilian team seems to be still looking for.
Under Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil is still a strong team with many top stars, but they no longer bring the fearsome feeling like previous generations who won the World Cup. Since the 2002 championship with the trio Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, Selecao has only passed the World Cup quarter-finals once, and that was the 2014 World Cup full of pain with a 1-7 defeat to Germany at home.
For more than two decades, Brazil has continuously stopped before France, the Netherlands, Belgium or Croatia in the knockout rounds. That is what makes the yellow and green jersey no longer bring the fear as before.
However, the victory over Haiti still shows positive signs. Vinicius continues to score in his second consecutive match and increasingly proves his leadership role in attack. Although not yet reaching the iconic stature of his predecessors, the Real Madrid star is still one of the best players in the world today.
In the back, Alisson continued to bring peace of mind in the goal, while the central defender duo Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinhos maintained certainty. Bruno Guimaraes also showed class in midfield, contributing to helping Brazil control the game.
The biggest highlight probably belongs to Matheus Cunha. The Manchester United striker scored 2 goals in two completely different ways, thereby providing an important solution to the controversial center forward problem before the tournament.
Cunha not only showed a keen scoring instinct but also showed the ability to connect his playing style. The performance against Haiti partly explains why Ancelotti prioritized using him instead of younger options like Endrick.
The 19-year-old talent of Real Madrid also left his mark after coming on as a substitute. Although the goal was disallowed for offside, Endrick still received enthusiastic cheers from Brazilian fans and is considered a great hope for the future.
However, not everything is perfect for Selecao. Raphinha's injury is what worries the coaching staff the most. The Barcelona striker is playing an important role in Ancelotti's attacking system.
Perhaps Brazil has not shown the image of an absolute championship candidate. They do not yet possess dominance or performances that make opponents wary like previous golden generations. But under the leadership of Ancelotti, Selecao is gradually finding the right formula.
Brazil may no longer be the team that makes the whole world fear. But they still possess quality, squad depth and individuals strong enough to make a difference. If they continue to follow the current path, Selecao can become a force in the decisive stage of the 2026 World Cup.
