In focus: Ancelotti's attacking arsenal
FIFA looks at the abundance of forward talents at the Brazil coach's disposal ahead of World Cup 2026.
Brazil have several outstanding attackers vying for starting spots
Vinicius Junior, Estevao and Matheus Cunha appear well placed ahead of World Cup 2026
FIFA looks at Carlo Ancelotti's options
When it comes to selecting the Brazil squad for a FIFA World Cup™, the most hotly-contested area is invariably the attack. As the tournament draws ever closer, it is now Carlo Ancelotti’s task to deal with this welcome headache.
That said, the Italian tactician has already formulated an attacking core over the course of his first four squad selections. He has opted for a 4-2-4 formation, with Vinicius Junior, Estevao and Matheus Cunha seemingly emerging as frontrunners. But what about the fourth and final forward? That is the cause of the headache.
Up until recently, Rodrygo had clocked up the most minutes as part of that quartet but the 25-year-old has seemingly been ruled out of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee after coming on in Real Madrid’s 1-0 to loss Getafe.
We must also not forget that Raphinha was away from the group for a prolonged period due to a complicated muscle injury.
Personnel aside, the attacking formation is by no means set in stone. Ancelotti's versatile squad offers a wealth of options, enabling the system to transition to a robust 4-2-3-1 or a traditional 4-3-3, depending on who they come up against and how the players’ individual strengths can complement each other.
With countless tactical options and names under discussion, Tostao – one of the members of Brazil's historic attacking quartet of 1970 – gave his verdict on the dilemma.
“In these endless discussions about who will play centre-forward at the World Cup, with a new name cropping up every week, Vinicius Junior is never mentioned," wrote the Brazil legend in his column for Folha de S.Paulo. "He has been the regular starter in that position, playing centrally and further forward than he does at Real Madrid. Similarly, former centre-forward Matheus Cunha now plays for club and country as a central attacking midfielder. Upon Raphinha’s return, he could play in Cunha’s position, or out wide in place of Rodrygo or Estevao."
Tostao added: “Another option could be to play Vinicius on the left, with Raphinha in the centre or on the right, alongside a centre-forward. The name on everyone’s lips at the moment is Joao Pedro. He is a skilful and creative player who covers a lot of ground and contributes to the team’s all-round performance.”
In this debate, only two things are certain: the potential is enormous and, to maintain an attacking style of play, Ancelotti needs his forwards to show unwavering commitment.
He has been unequivocal in his insistence on this. After the 5-0 thrashing of Korea Republic in October, Ancelotti emphasised the importance of teamwork in maximising the attackers’ potential to hurt the opposition.
“When the team is committed to the game, their quality shines through," he said. "That commitment was clear for all to see. The team has a lot of individual quality and needs to demonstrate that.”
Ancelotti has repeatedly stated in interviews that his selection criteria is based on player fitness, tactical versatility and recent form. Across the four squads he has announced so far, he has selected a total of 13 attackers. Below, FIFA outlines the current situation in the battle for a Seleção call-up.
These are the only forwards to feature in all of Ancelotti’s squads so far. Youngster Estevao is likely to start his World Cup journey as one of the first names on Brazil’s team sheet, given that he has scored four goals in the team’s last four matches. The hotshot has already become a fan favourite at Chelsea during his first season plying his trade in Europe.
Richarlison, meanwhile, is the most experienced of these options, boasting a proven track record of scoring crucial goals.
Cunha has been a key player in Manchester United’s Premier League revival under Michael Carrick. He has played more of a supporting role in the Brazil line-up, acting as an important link between his team-mates.
The only reason Vinicius is not in the group above is because Ancelotti rested him for the final matches of the CONMEBOL qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. He had to serve a one-match suspension, so he was given a few days’ rest instead of linking up with the squad in September 2025 for their fixtures against Chile and Bolivia. His recent dazzling displays for Real should fill his coach with hope.
Martinelli has been decisive for Arsenal in several UEFA Champions League and Premier League matches. His blistering pace and knack for scoring after cutting in diagonally have cemented his place among Brazil’s regular options.
Luiz Henrique impressed the coach when he was brought on towards the end of several qualifiers. He could be the key to success in one-v-one situations out wide.
Given his impressive skill set and leading role at Barcelona in recent years, the biggest question surrounding Brazil’s attack may be how it fits together while Raphinha is absent due to injury.
Among the traditional centre-forwards, Joao Pedro has continued to impress after an excellent FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ and is perhaps the current favourite to be Brazil's main striker in North America. He has been in outstanding form for Chelsea.
Antony has quickly emerged as a hero at Real Betis. He was called up to represent Brazil as part of Ancelotti’s first squad, but has not returned since then.
Kaio Jorge, the leading goalscorer in Brazil’s Serie A over the last two seasons, made his senior Seleção debut during his second call-up. However, he came off injured and has not been selected since.
Igor Jesus was called up for the friendlies against Korea Republic and Japan in October and has enjoyed an encouraging start to life at Nottingham Forest. The 25-year-old has netted twice in the top flight, while scoring seven from eight games in Europe for a seasonal tally of 12 at the time of writing.
Vitor Roque has rediscovered his form with Palmeiras since returning to Brazil, earning him a call-up for the friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia.
In recent weeks, two household names at completely different stages of their careers have dominated headlines in Brazil. Endrick and Neymar are both hoping to get the nod from Ancelotti for the first time.
Endrick wasted no time in reminding the world of his incredible talent after signing for Lyon on loan, with some outstanding Ligue 1 performances, including a superb hat-trick. Meanwhile, veteran Neymar returned to action for Santos this February after recovering from surgery on his left knee.
All told, Ancelotti has an embarrassment of riches in attack. Which players will he select as Brazil aim to add a sixth World Cup star to their iconic shirt?