In a surprising and controversial statement, Brazilian president Lula has suggested that the national team should be restricted to players currently playing in the Brazilian domestic league. Thus, excluding stars who have made their careers in European clubs. This move could fundamentally alter the composition of the Seleção and disrupt the nation’s longstanding tradition of fielding internationally-based talent.
President Lula made the provocative comments following Brazil’s narrow 2-1 victory over Chile in the World Cup 2026 Qualifiers. The match saw impressive performances from players based in Brazil. Luiz Henrique and Igor Jesus—both from the Brazilian league—scored the decisive goals. These standout contributions prompted Lula to question the need to rely on international players. Some of them are among the biggest names in Brazil and global soccer, such as Vinicius, Neymar, and Alisson Becker.
In a radio interview, Lula remarked, “Those who play abroad are not better than those who are here. There is no Garrincha or Romario overseas, just a bunch of young players who are not yet stars”. He continued by praising the home-grown talent and implied that the Europe-based one overshadows it.
Brazil push to prioritize domestic talent over Vinicius, more
Lula’s comments reflect a broader desire to elevate the status of Brazil’s domestic league, the Brasileirão. Particularly, by promoting local players on the international stage. He has already had discussions with Ednaldo Rodrigues, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). They have reportedly talked about the possibility of selecting only players from Brazil-based clubs for the national team.
Lula’s push for this change could see the exclusion of many high-profile Brazilian players from future national team call-ups. The list for Brazil includes Real Madrid stars like Vinicius, Rodrygo, and Endrick. There are also Premier League icons such as Alisson…
Author : Martina Alcheva
Publish date : 2024-10-13 22:33:56
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The post No Vinicius, Rodrygo: Brazil NT to ban stars who play in Europe? first appeared on Foot & Soccer.
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Author : footsoccer
Publish date : 2024-10-13 22:35:08
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