OPINION: Brazil's stars must step up to save their national team before it's too late

There is no reason to panic just yet about Brazil making the 2026 World Cup (partly due to the tournament expanding to 48 teams) since they only need to finish in the top six teams from South America to qualify. Their most recent defeat to Paraguay (as bad as it was) leaves them in fifth position and still on track to make the finals.

What is more worrying is that the 1-0 defeat didn't surprise anyone who has followed them closely in recent years. Brazil have not beaten Argentina, Uruguay or Colombia since getting knocked out of the 2022 World Cup at the quarter-final stage and they were desperately poor at the Copa America in the summer.

Brazil are a nation with an identity crisis.

New coach Dorival Junior has a group of players with more than enough talent to perform at a far higher level than they have been but who seem weighed down by the greats who came before them.

The Brazil team of 2024 are alone without the support of former legendary players who see a team lacking the flair and magic that was in abundance in their time. But this is a new era and whilst this crop of players may not have a Ronaldinho, Pele or Ronaldo - many are world-class players for their clubs. Therefore, they need support from legends, fans and the Brazilian media to help them perform in the same way for their country.

However, before Croatia stunned them late on in Qatar, the Selecao were the number one ranked nation in the world and hot favourites to add a sixth title to their illustrious World Cup history. So what went so wrong so quickly in the aftermath of that crushing defeat?

When did Brazil lose their identity?

After Brazil's heartbreaking defeat to arch-rivals Argentina in their home 2020 Copa America, they went on an impressive unbeaten run in the aftermath of that dark day leading up to the 2022 World Cup.

That unbeaten run (friendlies included) lasted for 16 months and ended in a shock defeat against Cameroon at the World Cup, winning 14 and drawing just three times.

So the Selecao's subsequent quarter-final exit at the World Cup is difficult to understand from a team that was in imperious form and with a squad stacked with quality.

And if that seemed bad, what has come since has only further confirmed their decline from world superpower to mediocracy.

Underwhelming performances and inconsistent results were the post-Qatar story as Brazil adjusted to life without their injured talisman and all-time leading scorer Neymar. 

Ageing and underperforming players like Casemiro, Thiago Silva and Fabinho also fell out of favour after the World Cup disappointment - leaving Brazil with an almost impossible job of replacing that experience and (in their heyday) world-class quality.

It has become a transitional period for Brazil who despite possessing an exciting crop of young talent, are desperately missing Neymar's magic and the leadership qualities of Fabinho, Casemiro and Thiago Silva.

They feel like a systematic team with players so used to the rigid and often expressionless nature of European football. On paper, that is the direction football has been heading for some time but Brazil is not your ordinary team - flair and personality are what make Brazil Brazil. And this current team feels like it is missing that identity.

What is going wrong with Vinicius Junior?

Vinicius Jr. was deemed to be Neymar's successor both in terms of carrying his nation in big moments and in terms of flair. Unfortunately, though, Vinicius has been the biggest individual disappointment in the last 12 months as he has failed to replicate his astonishing Real Madrid form that has placed him as the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or.

It is fair to say Vinicius is not loved in Brazil like he is in Madrid and it is no surprise when you compare his numbers for club versus country.

In the 2023/24 season, Vinicius scored 21 goals and provided 10 assists for Real Madrid in 39 appearances and in 10 appearances for Brazil, he managed just three goals and five assists. That included an underwhelming Copa America campaign where his only goal contributions came against Paraguay. 

Quite simply, the Vinicius of Real Madrid who has become synonymous with stepping up on the grandest of stages is a different player from the one who turns up for his national team and is often anonymous.

One possible explanation for Vini's Brazil woes is the pressure to live up to the legends who came before him. That expectation and demand on him in a country that lives and breathes football must affect him.

In addition, a controversial Instagram post, albeit one that was later confirmed as a marketing move, by legendary player Ronaldinho just days before the 2024 Copa America did nothing to help Vini or anyone else involved with Brazil. 

Ronaldinho said: "For me, it’s over. This is a sad moment for those who love Brazilian football.

"It’s hard to muster the enthusiasm to watch the games.

"This is perhaps one of the worst teams in recent years, lacking respected leaders, mostly just average players.”

That suggestion of failure before a ball was kicked from someone so highly respected and idolised by players like Vini was a dagger in the heart of the team.

How could they ignore it? And more to the point, how could it not affect their confidence? It was a bizarre move from Ronaldinho at the best of times but the timing of it couldn't have been worse. Brazil were on the back of a win against England and a 3-3 draw with Spain in the first two games of Dorival Junior's reign. 

In both games, they looked vastly improved and those results look even better now we know England would face Spain in the Euro 2024 final. I guess we will never know what effect if any Ronaldinho's comment had but if the weight of pressure wasn't already enough, that did nothing to help.

In the darkness, some light emerges

It feels like a lot of problems would be solved if Vinicius could begin to play with the freedom and expression he does for his club and the team as a whole might benefit from simplifying things. I would love to see them go out and attack their opposition with Vini causing havoc and the likes of Raphinha and Rodyrgo playing supporting roles.

Brazil have attacking players with an abundance of quality who need to connect more on the pitch. When there is better chemistry in the forward line, I expect to see them producing performances closer to their club form.

And the pressure is on because a new generation of highly talented kids is waiting in the wings.

Endrick has already made his mark for the national team, scoring against England and Spain in March and the teenager is starting to score goals for Real Madrid too. Then there is Estevao who Chelsea signed in the summer for £34 million before loaning him back to Palmeiras.

In 2024 alone, the teenage prodigy has scored nine goals and provided seven assists from the right wing for Palmeiras and is being raved about in Brazil for his performances. 

Then of course there is Vitor Roque. His time at Barcelona so far may have not gone to plan but a loan move to Betis is an opportunity to prove himself in Europe and force his way into Dorival Junior's plans. They are three among many emerging young talents who are knocking on the door of the more experienced players ahead of them.

The future for Brazil is dependent on getting the most out of their best player Vinicius Junior and their attacking stars starting to play as a team and not as individuals.

Otherwise, Endrick and Co. are waiting in the wings. And, as Endrick displayed with his first Champions League goal the other night, these youngsters are not afraid of taking matters into their own hands if necessary.