2026-01-01 09:00

As a long-time football analyst and someone who has followed the Brazilian national team with a near-obsessive passion for decades, I find the current squad under Dorival Júnior to be one of the most fascinating in recent memory. It’s not just about the dazzling names—we’ve always had those—but about a specific, modern challenge of balance and endurance. This brings me to a point made in a completely different sport, basketball, by a coach talking about his player Japeth: "We just feel like Japeth had to overplay minutes and he would wear down and wasn’t efficient in the latter stages of the game." That statement, about a Filipino basketball player, resonates profoundly when I look at this Seleção. It’s a perfect metaphor for the tightrope walk of managing elite talent, where over-reliance on key individuals, even the very best, can lead to collective inefficiency when it matters most. Let’s discover the current Brazil football team members and their key roles, through this lens of sustainable performance.

The spine of this team is both its greatest strength and its potential pitfall. In goal, we have the undisputed number one, Alisson Becker. For me, he’s the best goalkeeper in the world, and his role extends far beyond shot-stopping. He’s the calm initiator, the first line of attack with his distribution. But his backup, Ederson, is a luxury no other nation possesses. The key here is that this position isn’t a worry; it’s a fortress. The central defensive partnership, however, is where the "overplay" concern starts to creep in. Marquinhos, with over 80 caps, is the leader. His pace and intelligence are crucial. But his likely partner, Éder Militão, is returning from a serious ACL injury. Rushing him back or overplaying him in the Copa América, for instance, could see him "wear down" in a tournament’s knockout stages. We need to see the emergence of a robust third option, like Gleison Bremer, to share that load effectively. The full-backs are a microcosm of the new Brazil. Gone are the pure, flying wingers of old; now we have the inverted, playmaking full-back. Danilo provides experience on the right, but the future is someone like Yan Couto, who offers relentless energy. On the left, it’s all about the duel between the explosive Wendell and the more technically gifted Guilherme Arana. Dorival’s choice here will define the team’s attacking width.

Midfield is where the chess game is played. I’ve always been a sucker for a proper volante, a destroyer, and that’s why I’m so intrigued by João Gomes. He’s the pitbull, the one who does the dirty work that allows others to shine. His role is non-negotiable for balance. Alongside him, the conductor is Bruno Guimarães. He’s the metronome, the player who connects defense to attack with progressive passes and clever movement. He’s so good that the temptation is to play him every single minute, but that’s the "Japeth" trap. We have to manage his minutes to keep his creativity fresh in the latter stages of big games. Then there’s the wildcard, Lucas Paquetá. When he’s on form, he’s unplayable—a classic Brazilian meia-atacante with flair, vision, and a knack for the unexpected. But consistency and off-field issues have been a cloud. The attack, of course, is what everyone talks about. Vinicius Junior is the crown jewel. After his 22-goal season with Real Madrid, he’s the main threat, the player who demands double-teams and creates chaos. But here’s my personal take: if we overplay him, if we expect him to be the sole solution in every game, his explosiveness might dip when we need it most. That’s why Rodrygo is so vital. His intelligent movement and cooler finishing provide a different, equally deadly option. Up front, we’re in a transitional phase. The classic number nine isn’t there, but Endrick, at just 17, is the future. He’s already scored 2 goals in his first 4 senior caps, a stunning start. He shouldn’t be overburdened yet, but his role as a impact substitute or a starter in less pressurized games is key for his development.

So, what does this all mean? Looking at this roster, the depth in attacking areas is better than it’s been in years, but the strategic depth—having players who can slot in without a massive drop in a specific tactical function—is still being built. Dorival Júnior’s primary job isn’t just to pick the best eleven players; it’s to build a squad where the workload is intelligently distributed. The lesson from that basketball coach is universal: peak efficiency requires managed resources. We can’t have our Bruno Guimarães or our Marquinhos running on fumes in a potential semi-final because we felt we couldn’t rest them in the group stage. The key roles are clearly defined: Alisson as the rock, Marquinhos as the defensive organizer, João Gomes as the enforcer, Bruno Guimarães as the brain, and Vinicius Jr. as the lightning bolt. But their key role is also to be part of a collective that doesn’t burn out. My hope is that Dorival uses the depth, trusts the younger players in moments, and avoids the "overplay" trap. If he does, this mix of veteran savvy and youthful exuberance has the potential to not just play beautiful football, but to sustain it all the way to the final whistle of the biggest games. The talent is undeniable; the challenge, as always, is in the orchestration.