Roque Junior Says Brazil Are Not World Cup Favorites, Urges Neymar To Provide Positive Leadership
SãO PAULO, BRAZIL — Former Brazil defender and 2002 World Cup winner Roque Junior has warned that Brazil should not be considered favourites for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguing that the Seleção have lost much of their traditional attacking creativity and that Neymar’s influence could either unite or destabilise the squad under new coach Carlo Ancelotti.
The former Brazil defender was part of the team that won the 2002 FIFA World Cup and experienced the country’s golden era first-hand. Drawing on his playing career and his experience under Carlo Ancelotti at AC Milan, he offers an insider’s perspective on how Brazil have evolved and why he believes the current generation faces different challenges.
Roque Junior believes Brazil no longer possesses the abundance of creative attacking talent that once made it a perennial favourite. He argues that the growing influence of European football on youth development has changed the country’s identity, while Neymar’s leadership remains a delicate issue.
The tension lies between Brazil’s historic expectation to play attractive, dominant football and the reality of a team searching for balance under Ancelotti. With the World Cup approaching, the stakes are high for players, coaches, and supporters hoping to restore Brazil’s status at the top of world football.
Brazil has not won the World Cup since 2002, despite consistently entering tournaments as one of the favourites. Following a series of quarter-final exits and managerial changes, the Brazilian Football Confederation appointed Carlo Ancelotti to lead the national team into the 2026 World Cup.
Questions over Neymar’s fitness and role, alongside concerns about the country’s diminishing pool of creative players, have fuelled debate over the direction of the Seleção.
Brazil’s fortunes at the World Cup carry significant consequences beyond the pitch. Expectations from millions of supporters, commercial partners, and broadcasters remain enormous. Success could strengthen the national team’s global brand and reinforce confidence in Ancelotti’s project. At the same time, another disappointing campaign would intensify scrutiny on player development and the future identity of Brazilian football.
The outcome will also shape how fans and the wider football community judge this generation compared with the country’s past champions.
“But if you look at it today, I don't think Brazil is one of the favorites," said Roque.”
What comes next is simple and immediate: Brazil must now respond on the pitch, with every remaining match shaping whether they progress with control or under pressure. Ancelotti’s choices and Neymar’s role are already under the spotlight — and the tournament will decide the rest. From here, everything moves forward game by game.