Brazil Coach Ancelotti Highlights Absence of Iconic Stars Like Pele and Ronaldo

Brazil's national team coach Carlo Ancelotti has stated that the current Brazil squad lacks the individual star power seen in previous generations, such as Pele and Ronaldo. He emphasized that the team must rely on a collective approach rather than depending on a single superstar to lead them to victory.

Speaking before a friendly match against Panama at the Maracana, Ancelotti downplayed the presence of a standout "star" player in his roster. He highlighted the importance of shared responsibility among players to handle the pressure associated with competing at the World Cup level.

"The more experienced player has to have more responsibility, the younger player has to have less pressure. We all have a lot of responsibility and pressure. And what should we do? Share it. It can't be individual; we have to share the pressure so that it decreases a little," Ancelotti said during a press conference. He acknowledged that Brazil currently does not have icons like Pele, Romario, and Ronaldo but believes in distributing responsibility across the squad.

He further explained the team's focus on defense, stating, "We've worked a lot on defense. We're going to work a lot on that. I don't want to take away the creativity of the attacking players. They have a lot of quality, I don't want to create confusion. Defensively, it's a daily piece of information until the last game of the World Cup. Our work is focused on that. The defenders, full-backs, midfielders, they all have a very important role."

Neymar's Injury and World Cup Prospects

Despite the emphasis on collective effort, Neymar's fitness remains a central concern for the Brazil camp. The team faces significant pressure to reclaim its past World Cup success after quarter-final exits in the previous two tournaments, with their last title dating back to 2002. Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading scorer, is currently recovering from a grade two calf injury and has been unable to fully train with the ball.

Speculation surrounds Neymar's readiness for Brazil's opening World Cup match in New Jersey on June 13. Although Ancelotti had earlier stated he would only select players who are fully fit, he has made an exception for Neymar, who is still undergoing rehabilitation and receiving fitness updates from Santos.

Ancelotti Explains Neymar's Inclusion

Clarifying his decision to include Neymar despite his previous strict stance on player fitness, Ancelotti acknowledged some nuance in his earlier remarks. He is relying on Neymar's extensive experience, with the forward having earned 128 caps and scored 79 goals for Brazil. Neymar has participated in 13 World Cup matches across the 2014, 2018, and 2022 tournaments, scoring eight goals.

"I spoke about everyone being 100% physically in March, but I perhaps didn't explain very well that I could call up a player who wasn't 100% at the time, but who could be 100% at the World Cup. We lost Militao, Rodrygo and Estevao, but Neymar will be 100%," Ancelotti told reporters.

Deflecting Questions on Neymar's Selection

When asked if he regretted naming Neymar in the squad given the injury risks, Ancelotti used an Italian proverb to dismiss the question. He remains confident in his decision, especially with Brazil set to compete against Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti in Group C.

"You know what they say in Italy? That if my grandmother had wheels, she would be a car. When I arrived at the museum [to announce the squad], Neymar was among the 26," Ancelotti joked.