Brazil’s national team has been disappointing their fans for years. There is no improvement in sight. That’s probably why Brazil’s President Lula made a spicy suggestion – the national players should only play at home. But this would pose major problems for the coach.
The Brazilian national team is falling far short of its own expectations. The Selecao must seriously fight to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. After four defeats in a row in qualifying, the team managed a difficult victory with a 2-1 win against Chile and thus moved up to fourth place in the World Cup qualifying group.
Although coach Dorival Junior’s team is full of stars like Vinicius Junior, Endrick (both Real Madrid), Raphina (FC Barcelona) and Alison Becker (Liverpool FC), they have regularly disappointed in recent years. So much so that Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, felt compelled to make a spicy suggestion to the President of the Brazilian Football Association, Alejandro Dominguez. The 78-year-old no longer wants to see players in the Selecao who earn their money abroad.
“Those who play abroad are no better than those who are here. There are no Garrinchas or Romarios abroad, just a group of young players who are not yet stars,” Lula said. “We have to give those who are here a chance.”
If Dorival Junior listened to the state president, almost the entire team would disappear from him in one fell swoop. Only six players from the current squad are under contract at home.
With Vinicius Junior, Endrick and Rodrygo, Militao, a Real Madrid quartet is unlikely to play for the Selecao anymore. Premier League stars Ederson, Bruno Guimaraes, Gabriel Martinelli and Lucas Paqueta would also be left out.
“We have become an export country for players”
Lula occasionally gets involved in football matters. “We have become an export country for players. We sell them at 17 and buy them back at 34. That is the logic of Brazilian football,” said Lula, who is a big fan of Corinthians from Sao Paulo, back in June 2023.
Lula left it open what the Brazilian association head’s answer was. The win against Chile seems to have given him a boost, with Igor Jesus and Luiz Henrique scoring the goals. Both play for Botafogo in Brazil.
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