Estevao Could Be Brazil's World Cup's Surprise - Davide Ancelotti

One subordinate who will transportation Brazil's World Cup hopes connected his shoulders is Vinicius Jr.

The guardant has 8 goals successful 47 appearances for Brazil and has been influential for Real Madrid again this run pinch 11 goals successful La Liga and 5 much successful nan Champions League.

"Vinicius is simply a shot prima because of his talent," Ancelotti said.

"He's 1 of nan astir talented players successful nan world, truthful he carries this weight because everyone expects him to triumph nan crippled unsocial and nan expectations connected him are higher than immoderate different subordinate - possibly only Kylian Mbappe correct now."

The 25-year-old has besides had to woody pinch favoritism since moving to Spain, wherever he has faced 20 incidents of alleged maltreatment successful 8 years.

The latest incident came successful Real Madrid's Champions League knockout shape play-off necktie astatine Benfica successful February, pursuing which nan Brazilian winger said "racists are cowards".

"Having a head for illustration my begetter is really bully - successful being adjacent to nan stars," nan Brazil adjunct said.

"We conscionable focused connected what he [Vinicius] could amended and he has room for improvement. Even if he's 1 of nan best, possibly individual opinion, nan champion subordinate successful nan world, but everyone has room for improvement.

"So we attraction connected that because we person a head who is simply a master successful making stars not consciousness unsocial and he ever did that pinch stars for illustration Didier Drogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski."

Ancelotti, 36, held discussions to return complaint of Scottish broadside Rangers past play earlier taking up his first managerial domiciled astatine Brazilian broadside Botafago - only to beryllium sacked 5 months later successful December 2025.

The Italian, however, has continued to activity pinch his father, who was named Brazil leader successful May 2025 aft 4 years astatine Real Madrid, wherever he won 3 Champions League titles and 2 La Liga titles complete 2 spells.

Five-time World Cup winners Brazil person not lifted nan trophy since their past triumph successful 2002 but Ancelotti believes nan Selecao "will beryllium fresh for nan World Cup".

"It will beryllium difficult because it will beryllium aft a really agelong season," said Ancelotti.

"There are players that will scope nan World Cup pinch much than 60 games and this is not good. It will beryllium not bully for nan show aliases nan group that are watching.

"So we will return attraction of nan players physically. It will beryllium important because nan upwind will beryllium truthful hot. It will beryllium a title that will beryllium decided by mini details.

"But I tin opportunity that we person a really competitory squad that tin play shot that could beryllium businesslike successful a title for illustration that. So we are positive."

Brazil will look Morocco successful their World Cup opener connected 13 June successful New Jersey earlier taking connected Scotland and Haiti successful Group C.