Ronaldo Backs Neymar as Brazil’s Key Player, Praises Ancelotti and French Prospects

Brazilian football legend Ronaldo expressed strong confidence in Brazil’s national team ahead of the World Cup, despite their underwhelming performance so far. In an interview with L'Equipe, Ronaldo emphasized the importance of Neymar in the squad, stating that no other player currently has his ability to win matches. He highlighted Neymar’s good physical condition and medical clearance, urging the team not to miss the opportunity to rely on him. Ronaldo compared Neymar’s situation to his own in 2002, the year Brazil last won the World Cup.

Ronaldo also praised Brazil’s coach Carlo Ancelotti, describing him as uniquely capable of managing pressure and getting the best out of players. He said he would not choose any other coach for Brazil at this time. Regarding other top players, Ronaldo acknowledged Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe surpassing his World Cup goal record but noted that records are meant to be broken and that Messi remains one of the greatest players in history. He likened Mbappe’s playing style to his own peak years and called him a natural heir to football legends.

Looking ahead, Ronaldo identified France, Spain, Argentina, Germany, and Brazil as favorites to win the tournament. On the prospect of Zinedine Zidane coaching France in the future, Ronaldo praised Zidane’s perfect profile for the role, citing his talent, experience, tactical intelligence, and character, supported by his successful tenure at Real Madrid.