The quest for the historic sixth star begins again for Brazil. As a storied, soccer-mad nation that has lifted the World Cup trophy five times—more than any other country—its last triumph in 2002 is beginning to feel like a distant, painful memory.
An entire generation of Brazilians has never seen their country win a World Cup. Instead, over two decades of frustration have followed: France ended the Seleção’s campaign in 2006, the Netherlands in 2010, Belgium in 2018, and Croatia in 2022. But nothing compares to the ultimate trauma of 2014—the infamous “Mineiraço”—where Germany inflicted a humiliating 7-1 defeat on Brazilian soil.
Now, after 24 years in the wilderness, a new generation is looking to write its own chapter, with Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Júnior expected to be the lead author under the guidance of legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Why Brazilian Belief is at an All-Time Low
Despite the obvious clamor for world supremacy, public expectations in Brazil are at an absolute historical low. According to a recent survey by the Datafolha institute:
- Only 29% of the population believes the Seleção can actually win the World Cup (the lowest figure since polling began in 1994).
- 46% of fans do not even expect the squad to advance past the quarterfinals.
This heavy pessimism exists for good reason. Brazil’s journey to the 2026 World Cup has been plagued by chaotic scandals off the pitch and historical underperformance on it. In May 2025, a Rio de Janeiro court removed the CBF president for alleged document falsification. Meanwhile, on the field, Brazil suffered its worst qualifying campaign in history.
The Seleção finished a lowly fifth in the CONMEBOL standings, 10 points behind arch-rivals Argentina. The absolute low point came in Buenos Aires, where a Lionel Messi-less Argentina thumped Brazil 4-1—their biggest loss to the Albiceleste since 1964. The disaster cost coach Dorival Júnior his job and accelerated the arrival of Ancelotti.
The European Knockout Ghost
To lift the trophy, Ancelotti’s men must conquer a massive psychological barrier: beating a European nation in the knockout stages—something Brazil has failed to do since Ronaldo Nazário defeated Germany in the 2002 final.
If Brazil tops Group C as expected, they are projected on a collision course to meet Euro powerhouse England in the quarterfinals.
The Burden of the 1970 “Beautiful Team”
The continuous pressure on modern players stems from the legendary 1970 squad of Pelé, Jairzinho, and Tostão. That team solidified the yellow shirt as the global gold standard of O Jogo Bonito (The Beautiful Game).
“Every World Cup has since been judged by 1970,” says South American soccer expert Tim Vickery. “The 24-year drought feels more serious now because what you thought of Brazil wasn’t just winning, it was winning with style. Over the last few years, they haven’t had that monopoly on stylish football.”
Vinícius Jr. and Neymar’s Final Destiny
Every iconic Brazilian World Cup triumph has had a defining hero: Pelé in 1958 and 1970, Garrincha in 1962, Romário in 1994, and Ronaldo in 2002. For the 2026 edition, Vinícius Jr. must step into that legendary lineage.
While Vinícius Jr. takes center stage, the emotional heart of the team remains Neymar. The 34-year-old superstar has spent the last two years battling severe injuries and has not played consistently since late 2023. Yet, when his name was called for the official squad selection in Rio de Janeiro, the crowd erupted in chants of “Olé, olé, olé, olá… Neymar, Neymar!”
Twelve years after missing the tragic 7-1 semifinal due to a broken back, the Seleção’s all-time top goalscorer has one final, dramatic chance to fulfill his World Cup destiny and bring the elusive sixth star home.
Source: CNN Sports / Datafolha Polls / EchoPress Sports
