Legendary Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho has harshly criticized the current Brazil national team ahead of the Copa América 2024, calling it “one of the worst teams in recent years.” In a passionate Instagram post, he expressed his dismay at the team’s lack of leadership, determination, and quality, stating that he will not watch or celebrate their games even if they win the tournament.
“It’s difficult to find energy to watch the games,” Ronaldinho wrote. “This is maybe one of the worst teams in recent years, it has no respectable leaders, just average players for the most part. I’ve never seen a situation as bad as this. There’s a lack of love for the shirt, a lack of determination and most importantly [a lack of] football.”
Brazil’s struggles have been evident since their quarterfinal exit in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. They posted a 3-1-5 record in 2023, including their first three-match losing streak since 2001 and their first-ever home loss in a World Cup qualifying match against Argentina.
Interim head coach Fernando Diniz had a tough run before Dorival Júnior took over as the full-time head coach in January. Despite the challenges, Júnior remains optimistic. “We can’t go through the moment we’re going through. We need to find that moment again. Brazilian football is very strong, it reinvents itself,” he said at his introductory press conference.
Brazil enters the Copa América missing key players due to injuries, including Ederson and Neymar. Lucas Paquetá, who was recently cleared to play despite facing betting charges, is expected to be part of the squad. The team is ranked fifth in the FIFA world rankings, offering a glimmer of hope despite recent setbacks.
Ronaldinho’s scathing comments reflect the frustration of many Brazilian fans. The national team’s performance in the upcoming tournament will determine if his criticism is justified. Brazil’s Copa América campaign kicks off on June 24 against Costa Rica.
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