Legendary Brazilian forward Ronaldo Nazario has criticised manager Carlo Ancelotti over his ‘mistake’ during Brazil’s 1-1 draw against Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 49-year-old specifically pointed out that placing star forward Raphinha on the left wing was a perplexing choice by the Italian coach.
At the club level, Raphinha had an outstanding 2025-26 season with the Spanish team Barcelona. Despite being sidelined for several matches due to a hamstring injury, he managed to score 21 goals and provide eight assists in 33 appearances for the Catalan club across all competitions.
Although he began most of those 33 matches on the left wing, he performed more effectively on the right. Speaking on ESPN Brasil’s Resenha da Copa, Ronaldo asserted that Ancelotti’s decision not to utilize the 29-year-old on the right side was detrimental.
‘O Fenomeno’, as the former Barcelona and Real Madrid striker is affectionately known, stated via Goal, “Raphinha on the left, when he had an incredible year with Barcelona playing on the right? There were decisions that were difficult to understand, which, in the second half, began to improve.”
Ronaldo attributed Brazil’s cautious display against Morocco to the nerves and pressure associated with the opening match of a FIFA World Cup. He described the anxiety as ‘normal’ and expressed optimism regarding his nation’s prospects.
He further remarked, “I remain very optimistic. I believe [it was] the pressure of the first game, and I had already observed that, as it was unusual to miss so many passes, particularly in the first half… Later, after watching the interview with Ancelotti and the players, acknowledging this nervousness, I felt reassured as well. It’s normal, right? World Cup, right? Such nervousness among the players, especially the newcomers.”
With all-time leading scorer Neymar unavailable for the group stage due to injury, Brazil’s quest for a record-extending sixth FIFA World Cup title has begun on a shaky note.
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