Brazil captain Marquinhos has said that the 2026 FIFA World Cup might be his last opportunity to write his name on the history book of the football’s ultimate prize.

He disclosed this in an interview posted on FIFA’s website on Friday.

Having sealed legend status at PSG and become an increasingly influential figure in the Brazil dressing room, Marquinhos said he was well aware of the scale of the challenge that lies ahead, the responsibility that he must shoulder and the opportunity to write his name into World Cup history, saying: “At 32, this might be my last chance.”

Speaking on his challenges over the years, he noted “I’ve experienced that [frustration] at club level and so have some of the others in the squad,” Marquinhos said. “We know that standards are extremely high and that it all comes down to the finest details: making as few mistakes as possible, capitalising on our opponents’ errors and staying strong because we know we’ll have to pull through some difficult moments.”

Marquinhos has never made it beyond the quarter-finals in his two previous World Cup campaigns. In 2018, Brazil were edged out 2-1 by Belgium. Four years later, they came up short on penalties against Croatia following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes. In the shoot-out, the defensive maestro’s decisive penalty cannoned back off the inside of the post.

Now, three-and-a-half years on from that gut-wrenching miss, Marquinhos said he is ready to lead out his country at FIFA’s flagship men’s competition. The defender believes that his main duty is to guide the team through the pressure-filled moments that are an inevitable consequence of competing on the game’s biggest stage.

“Leaders really come into their own in difficult and challenging circumstances,” Marquinhos explained. “That’s when you need to step up and carry the mantle of responsibility, especially for the younger players, for those who aren’t used to the pressure cooker and the furore that surrounds the national team when times get tough.”

Marquinhos’ demeanour when talking to the press during times of adversity is testament to his leadership. He has often become the team’s spokesperson following a poor run of form or a period of instability.

“That really is part and parcel of being a captain or leader,” he said. “When times get tough, you need to be strong, help maintain a sense of calm and understand that you can turn things around through hard work, training and dedication.”

The lessons of his past and his personal trajectory of overcoming setbacks are what fuel Marquinhos’s confidence. Brazil head into the World Cup following a four-year cycle that has seen as many head coaches take the reins, and a fifth-place finish out of 10 CONMEBOL teams in South American qualification. Still, the dependable defender has cause for optimism.

“We’ve got so many great players, with a plethora of options in all areas. We need to continue to mould our identity and understand how we can hurt our opponents and how best to adapt when the going gets tough,” he said.

Besides the abundance of technical quality at their disposal, Brazil head into the World Cup with an internationally renowned strategist at the helm. Italian tactician Carlo Ancelotti is the only manager to have won the UEFA Champions League five times, as well as securing the championship title in each of Europe’s top five leagues – in Italy, England, France, Germany, and Spain.

“Ancelotti is a serial winner who has proven that he knows how to transform a team into champions,” Marquinhos said of his coach. “I think it’s important for us to have him in charge right now. He’s dealt remarkably well with the challenges and the pressure that come with the territory.

“We’re delighted to have a manager like him, who really understands his squad, his players, and who knows so much about the tactical side of the game, and even more about what it takes to become a champion. He’s brought a real spark to the group, that extra edge we needed going into this World Cup.”

The United States could scarcely have scripted a better start to their World Cup as a Folarin Balogun brace and a Gio Reyna curler fired the cohosts to a 4-1 drubbing of Paraguay in front of Hollywood royalty in Los Angeles.

The hosts took the lead in the tournament’s first game on US soil within seven minutes thanks to an own goal, and by the end of an utterly dominant half, the home fans were in dreamland, their side up by three.

Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Paris Hilton were among a sold-out 70,492 crowd as the US – cohosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada – piled wave after wave of attacks on the South Americans, with Reyna polishing off the win late in stoppage time after Mauricio had pulled one back.

The win and emphatic scoreline put the US in a favourable position already to progress from Group D, which also contains Australia and Turkiye.

The night’s only potential sour note was the half-time withdrawal of Christian Pulisic, the US attacking talisman who is carrying the hopes of the nation as they attempt a deep run into the World Cup knockouts for the first time since their quarterfinal appearance in 2002.

Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, who is facing trial in Britain on rape charges, has been denied a visa to enter Canada to play for Ghana in the World Cup, FIFA said on Friday.

“FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s Team Base Camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government,” world football’s governing body said.

FIFA said it was “not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas”.

“As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country,” it added.

It is believed that Partey will, however, be eligible to play in Ghana’s subsequent Group L games against England and Croatia, which will both take place in the United States.

Partey, who plays for Spanish side Villarreal, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022.

The 32-year-old is due to stand trial next year.



AFP