Can we talk a little bit about how CR7, Messi, and Modrić played in the 2006 WC and will be playing again in the upcoming 2026 WC! With the exception of Croatia missing the WC in 2010, these players are going into their 6th WC, a record that I don’t expect to be broken for a long time to come, if ever.
Well, at least not by Brazil, because with a few exceptions, we have major issues that would prevent a Brazilian from reaching 4 WCs, never mind 5 or the near impossibility of playing in 6 WCs.
Oh, and don’t even get me started on Carlos Alberto Parreira (a coach I like, BTW) not giving Ronaldo a single minute when Brazil won in 1994. To me, while official, I can never say that Ronaldo has two WCs.
Brazil, being the only country to have played in every WC edition, has only 3 or 4 players that played in 4 WCs (Cafu, Ronaldo, Pelé), and none that have played 5. Take Neymar: he played in 3 WCs already. But this could have been 4 if not for Dunga refusing to call him when he was 18 in 2010. But never mind the start—he is doubtful to even play next year, so he may get stuck at just 3 WCs, partly due to injuries and partly due to coaching
Well, at least not by Brazil, because with a few exceptions, we have major issues that would prevent a Brazilian from reaching 4 WCs, never mind 5 or the near impossibility of playing in 6 WCs.
- Brazilians are not great when it comes to longevity. Whether it is injuries, early decline, and so on, it is very hard for a player to play their first WC at 17/18/19 and expect him to be there 20 years later.
- Speaking of early starts, with a few exceptions here and there (Pelé in 1958, Ronaldo in 1994), Brazilian coaches are too conservative to let a teenager be called to a WC. Yes, it may hopefully happen with Estevão (19 years old by WC time), but on the other hand, it likely won’t happen with Endrick (who will turn 20 by the late stages of the tournament).
- Last, unlike most other teams, the depth of talent for Brazil prevents a coach from having to rely on a 17/18-year-old unless they are an exceptional phenomenon like Pelé or Ronaldo. Otherwise, most good players start their WC career at 21/22 and rarely last beyond 2–3 WCs. Look at the quartet of Adriano/Ronaldinho/Robinho/Kaká: each played just two WCs, with Kaká playing 3, despite being just 20 years old in his inaugural tournament in 2002 (and playing limited minutes).
Oh, and don’t even get me started on Carlos Alberto Parreira (a coach I like, BTW) not giving Ronaldo a single minute when Brazil won in 1994. To me, while official, I can never say that Ronaldo has two WCs.
Brazil, being the only country to have played in every WC edition, has only 3 or 4 players that played in 4 WCs (Cafu, Ronaldo, Pelé), and none that have played 5. Take Neymar: he played in 3 WCs already. But this could have been 4 if not for Dunga refusing to call him when he was 18 in 2010. But never mind the start—he is doubtful to even play next year, so he may get stuck at just 3 WCs, partly due to injuries and partly due to coaching