Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has joked that the national team should consider recruiting Lionel Messi, following Brazil’s shaky start to their 2026 World Cup campaign.
Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their opening Group match, a result that exposed several defensive and attacking weaknesses in the five-time world champions. The performance sparked concern among fans and pundits about the team’s early form in the tournament.
In contrast, Argentina—Brazil’s long-time rivals—enjoyed a stronger start, with Messi reportedly scoring a hat-trick against Algeria in their opening fixture.
When asked about Brazil’s performance, President Lula responded humorously, saying: “I was thinking about signing Messi to play for Brazil,” drawing laughter from journalists.
He quickly added that the draw was not a major setback, describing Morocco as Brazil’s toughest group opponent, and expressed confidence in the team’s ability to improve as the tournament progresses.
“They say that whenever Brazil is heavily doubted, they win the World Cup… let’s see,” he added.
Attention is now shifting to Neymar, who returned to action after a spell on the sidelines due to injury concerns. The 34-year-old forward joined Brazil’s training session and light activities, marking his gradual return to full fitness ahead of the next group match against Haiti.
In a light-hearted moment, Neymar greeted reporters on the pitch, asking with a smile: “Did you miss me?”
