Brazil and the World Cup go together like bread and butter - a perfect combination. A World Cup without Brazil's verve, style and magic would be a tournament without its protagonists and stardust. There is no reason to panic about Brazil not making the 2026 World Cup - which will be expanded to 48 teams - as they only need to finish in the top six in the South American qualifying round to qualify. Their most recent defeat to Paraguay, while bad, still leaves them in fifth place.
What is more worrying here is that the 1-0 defeat did not surprise anyone who has followed them in recent years. Brazil have not beaten Argentina, Uruguay or Colombia since being knocked out of the 2022 World Cup at the quarter-final stage and they were poor at the Copa America this summer.
Identity crisis
Coach Dorival Junior has a group of players with enough talent to compete at a much higher level than they have in the past, but they seem to be held down by the greats who have come before them. Equally painful is that the Brazil Team of 2024 is alone without the support of the legends. In their eyes, the current team lacks the flair and magic that was so abundant in their era.
But this is a new era and while this generation of players may not have Pele, Ronaldinho or Ronaldo, many are world class players at their clubs, so they need the support of Brazilian legends, fans and media to bring back their identity.
However, before Croatia stunned them at the World Cup in Qatar two years ago, the Selecao were still sitting at the top of the FIFA rankings and favourites to add a sixth title to their illustrious World Cup history. So what happened?
When did Brazil lose its identity?
After a heartbreaking defeat to Argentina at the 2020 Copa America on home soil, Brazil went on an impressive unbeaten run into the 2022 World Cup. That run lasted 16 months and ended with a surprise defeat to Cameroon at the World Cup, winning 14 and drawing just three. So a quarter-final exit at the World Cup is a bit of a shock for a team in great form and with a squad full of quality players.
And if that seemed bad, what followed only confirmed the decline from superpower to mediocrity. Poor performances and inconsistent results have been the story of the post-Qatar era, as Brazil adapt to life without Neymar, the injured star and the Blues’ all-time leading scorer.
Veterans and underachievers like Casemiro, Thiago Silva and Fabinho were also dropped after the World Cup debacle - leaving Brazil with little to replace that experience and world-class quality (in their heyday). This period became a transitional one for Brazil, who, despite possessing a promising crop of young talent, missed the magic of Neymar and the leadership qualities of Fabinho, Casemiro and Thiago Silva.
They look like a structured team with players who have grown accustomed to the rigid and emotionless nature of European football. In theory, that's the direction football has been heading for a while, but Brazil are not your average team. Style and character are what make Brazil what they are. The current team lacks that identity.
What's wrong with Vinicius Junior?
Vinicius Jr. is seen as Neymar’s successor in terms of both his ability to carry the team in big moments and his talent. Unfortunately, Vinicius has been the biggest disappointment on a personal level over the past 12 months, failing to replicate the incredible form at Real Madrid that made him a leading contender for the Ballon d’Or.
It is fair to say that Vinicius is not as beloved in Brazil as he is in Madrid, and it is no surprise when comparing his club and country figures. In the 2023-24 season, Vinicius scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists for Real Madrid in 39 appearances. In 10 appearances for Brazil, he only scored 3 goals and provided 5 assists. In a poor Copa America, Vini only scored against Paraguay.
Simply put, Real Madrid's Vinicius, who has become a symbol of stepping up to the biggest stage, is another player on the national team with a mediocre appearance.
One explanation for Vini’s woes in Brazil is the pressure to live up to the legends of the previous generation. The expectations and demands placed on Vini in a country that lives and breathes football must have taken their toll. Additionally, a controversial Instagram post by the legendary Ronaldinho just days before the 2024 Copa America did not help Vini or anyone else associated with Brazil.
"For me, it's over," Ronaldinho said. "It's a sad moment for Brazilian football lovers. It's hard to muster the enthusiasm to watch the matches. This is probably one of the worst teams in recent years, lacking respected leaders, mostly just average players."
Before the game, the hint of defeat from someone who was revered and idolised by the players like Vini was a stab in the heart. How could they ignore it? And more importantly, how could it not affect their confidence? It was a strange move by Ronaldinho at a time when it couldn’t have been worse. Brazil had beaten England and drawn 3-3 with Spain in Dorival’s first two games in charge.
In both games they looked to have improved tremendously and those results will be even better when we know England face Spain in the EURO 2024 final. We will never know what effect Ronaldinho's comments had but if the weight of the pressure wasn't enough, it didn't help.
In the darkness, a little light appears
It seems like a lot of the problems would be solved if Vinicius could start playing with the freedom he has shown at Real Madrid, and the whole team could benefit from simplifying things. One would like to see them go out and attack opponents with Vini causing havoc and Raphinha and Rodyrgo in supporting roles.
Brazil have plenty of quality attackers who need to link up more on the pitch. With more understanding up front, they will produce performances closer to their club form. And the pressure is on with a new generation of talented youngsters waiting.
Endrick has made his mark for the national team, scoring against England and Spain. The teenager has also started to score for Real Madrid. Then there is Estevao, who Chelsea signed for £34m in the summer before loaning back to Palmeiras. The teenage prodigy has scored nine goals and provided seven assists for Palmeiras in 2024 alone and has been praised in Brazil for his performances. Then, of course, there is Vitor Roque. His time at Barcelona may not have gone as planned, but a loan move to Betis is a chance to prove himself in Europe and get him into Dorival’s plans.
They are three of a number of emerging young talents ready to compete with more experienced players. Brazil's future depends on getting the best out of Vinicius, and their attacking stars starting to play as a team rather than as individuals.
If not, Endrick & Co are waiting in the wings. And, as Endrick showed with his first Champions League goal, these youngsters are not afraid to take matters into their own hands if necessary.
