For decades, Brazil’s World Cup squads travelled with an air of inevitability, as though returning with the trophy was a duty, not a dream. From the star-studded class of 2002 led by Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, to the ruggedly efficient 1994 winners fronted by Romario and shielded by a resolute back line, the Seleção were synonymous with footballing supremacy. Go further back, to 1958, 1962 and 1970, and the legend of Pelé cements Brazil’s golden aura in the game’s history.
Yet the Brazil now heading towards next summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico looks very different. They have gone 24 years without lifting football’s most coveted prize. They sit only seventh in the FIFA World Rankings. Their talisman of the last decade, Neymar Jr, has been hampered by repeated injuries and has not appeared for the national team in more than two years. This is a side in transition, searching for a new identity in the post-Neymar era.
Many observers have responded by quietly – or loudly – writing Brazil off. In a world where France, England, Argentina and Spain dominate pre-tournament conversations, Brazil have drifted from automatic favourites to dark horses. But their dominant 2-0 victory over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium in London suggests that counting them out may be premature. Under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti, this Brazil is beginning to look like a serious World Cup contender again.
A Maverick Front Line Built to Frighten Defences
If Brazil once relied on Pelé, then Romario, then Ronaldo, the modern incarnation is defined not by one mythical figure but by a devastating quartet. Against Senegal, Ancelotti deployed an attacking line of Vinícius Júnior, Estevão, Rodrygo and Matheus Cunha in a bold 4-2-4 system. It was a statement of intent: Brazil may be evolving tactically, but they have not abandoned their tradition of flair.
From the opening minutes at the Emirates, Brazil’s front line played with an intoxicating combination of freedom and ruthlessness. Vinícius repeatedly terrorised Senegal’s right flank, bursting down the wing, beating multiple defenders and forcing a fine early save from goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Moments later, Cunha rattled the crossbar with a close-range header, underlining the relentlessness of the Brazilian assault.
The breakthrough, when it came, was fittingly crafted by one of the new generation. Estevão, operating just a few miles from his Stamford Bridge base, curled in a superb finish on his left foot to make it 1-0. His goal encapsulated what this new-look attack offers: unpredictability, technical excellence and fearless expression in the final third. With Rodrygo drifting between the lines and Cunha acting as a mobile focal point, Brazil’s frontline often looked nigh-on impossible to contain.
Crucially, Ancelotti’s 4-2-4 is not simply reckless attacking. By granting the front four licence to expend their energy in the areas that matter, he allows them to play on instinct and spontaneity. For opposition defences, the prospect of facing Vinícius, Estevão and Rodrygo – all quick, direct and inventive – is daunting. At their best, as they were in the first half against Senegal, this Brazil attack can trouble any defence in world football.
Casemiro’s Renaissance and a Midfield Built on Balance
While the frontline grabs the headlines, Ancelotti’s Brazil pivots on something more subtle: balance. At the heart of that equilibrium is Casemiro, the Manchester United midfielder who endured a bruising period at club level but has found fresh authority in yellow under his former Real Madrid coach.
Casemiro had, for a time, lost his place in the national side, his struggles at Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag mirrored by a spell in international exile that lasted almost a year. One of Ancelotti’s first major decisions as Brazil manager was to recall him – and against Senegal, that decision looked inspired. Operating alongside Bruno Guimarães, Casemiro was both shield and sword, protecting the back line while timing his forward interventions to perfection.
He capped his performance with Brazil’s second goal, arriving at the far post to apply a composed finish after a set piece. It was another chapter in what is fast becoming a renaissance for the Brazilian vice-captain. After the match, Ancelotti did not mince words, describing Casemiro as his “most important” player for the balance of the team. He praised his tactical intelligence, his quality on the ball and his leadership, underlining how essential the midfielder is to Brazil’s structure.
Alongside him, Guimarães offers creativity and control, knitting play together and dictating tempo. Against Senegal, the pair were at times all-encompassing, snapping into tackles, recycling possession and launching attacks. The only caveat is their lack of sheer pace, which could, in theory, be exposed by more dynamic midfields from the likes of France or Spain. However, Ancelotti has options. Fabinho, the former Liverpool anchorman, remains available as an extra layer of protection in games where Brazil may need to tilt towards pragmatism.
The depth does not end there. Premier League regulars Richarlison, Lucas Paquetá, Andrey Santos and João Pedro all began the Senegal match on the bench, hoods up, waiting for their chance. That such talent was not even required to break sweat in a comfortable 2-0 win speaks volumes about the richness of Ancelotti’s squad and the tactical flexibility at his disposal.
A Defence That Finally Matches Brazil’s Ambition
For all the talk of Brazil’s attacking verve, recent tournaments have often been undone at the other end of the pitch. Defensive frailties, lapses in concentration and a lack of cohesion at the back have haunted the Seleção on the biggest stage. Under Ancelotti, that narrative may be shifting.
Against Senegal, the centre-back pairing of Gabriel and Marquinhos looked commanding and composed, dealing calmly with the sporadic threats posed, particularly by Sadio Mané. They were well-protected by Casemiro and Guimarães, but their positioning, anticipation and aerial strength ensured that Senegal rarely threatened from open play. In the first half especially, the African champions created barely a half-chance.
On the flanks, Eder Militão provided another intriguing twist. Usually deployed as a central defender at Real Madrid, he operated at right-back with unexpected adventure, drawing comparisons to more attack-minded full-backs. His energetic forays down the flank gave Brazil an extra outlet in possession, while his natural defensive instincts helped maintain solidity when Senegal countered.
The numbers back up the impression. Since Ancelotti took charge, Brazil have kept clean sheets in five of his six matches. The only goals conceded came in a bizarre second-half collapse against Japan in Tokyo, where Brazil surrendered a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2. That defeat, though alarming in the moment, now looks more like a harsh lesson than a fatal flaw. Outside that anomaly, this has been a side built on discipline and structure rather than chaos.
Of course, a handful of matches is not enough to declare Brazil’s defensive issues solved for good. Stronger opposition and the pressure of a World Cup knockout tie will provide sterner tests. But the early signs are that Gabriel, Marquinhos and Casemiro offer a spine of experience and resilience that previous generations have sometimes lacked, giving the maverick forwards the platform they need to express themselves.
Flawed but Dangerous: Brazil’s Path to World Cup Contention
The second half against Senegal lacked the intensity and spectacle of the first. With a 2-0 cushion, Brazil managed the game rather than chased it. Senegal huffed and puffed, driving forward mainly through Mané, but never looked likely to overturn the deficit. Ancelotti introduced Paquetá and João Pedro, yet their muted impact will not overly concern him; the damage had already been done in a devastating opening 45 minutes.
This contrast between explosive brilliance and measured control encapsulates where Brazil are right now. They remain a team in progress, vulnerable to occasional lapses, as evidenced by that 3-2 defeat in Tokyo. They are not yet the finished article, not the unstoppable machine that some of their predecessors appeared to be. But in the balance between eccentricity and determination, they are edging closer to a powerful and effective identity.
What makes them particularly dangerous is the variety of ways they can hurt opponents. On one day, Vinícius, Estevão and Rodrygo might win games on the counter-attack with their pace and flair. On another, Casemiro and Guimarães may grind out a result through control in midfield. If the occasion demands it, Ancelotti can add Fabinho for extra steel or deploy Paquetá between the lines as a creative wildcard. Few national teams can call upon such a blend of artistry, experience and tactical nuance.
As next summer’s World Cup approaches, it would be easy to fixate on Brazil’s 24-year wait for the trophy, their transitional status or their reliance on emerging stars rather than a single, totemic figure. Yet that would ignore the steady transformation under Ancelotti. His Brazil keeps clean sheets, punishes opponents in quick, ruthless bursts and leans on a rejuvenated Casemiro – the “most important” player in the system – to hold everything together.
They may not board the plane to North America as the bookmakers’ favourites. But if Ancelotti’s Brazil can cut out the freak collapses, harness their electric frontline, and preserve the defensive steel that has begun to emerge, they will arrive on American shores as something every rival dreads: a flawed, evolving, but utterly formidable contender.
