Lucas Paqueta
January 2026
Paqueta said he needed Flamengo after sealing a £36m move back to Brazil, ending a long-running saga and fulfilling his aim to return ahead of the World Cup year. He described repeated contact from Flamengo, said the club supported him during the period of accusations and investigation, and explained he did not want to force an exit while West Ham were backing him and respecting his family.
Endrick
December 2025
Brazilian forward Endrick has secured a six-month loan from Real Madrid to Lyon, leaving the Bernabeu in search of regular minutes after struggling for game time under Xabi Alonso, with the Ligue 1 club handing the 19-year-old the No. 9 shirt. Vinicius Junior marked the move with a supportive Instagram message, calling Endrick his brother and urging him to succeed in France, as the teenager prepares to join Paulo Fonseca’s squad, adapt to Ligue 1 and relaunch his push for club and Brazil opportunities.
Oscar
December 2025
Oscar plans to retire after collapsing on an exercise bike at Sao Paulo training, with tests revealing vasovagal syncope that affects heart rate and blood pressure, bringing a sudden end to a career that spanned Brazil, Chelsea and a lucrative spell in China. The 34 year old was taken to ICU after the collapse and had already endured a fractured vertebra and earlier cardiac concerns. Medical advice and long term risk have convinced him to prioritise health, informing Sao Paulo of his wish to stop and reassuring fans via social media.
England national team
December 2025
England’s World Cup draw puts them in a group with Ghana, Croatia and Panama, opponents who all topped their qualifying sections and arrive with momentum. On paper it looks manageable, but each side carries threats, travel demands and contrasting styles that complicate progress. If they top the group, England probably face Senegal in the Round of 32, co-hosts Mexico at altitude in the last 16, then Brazil in Miami and Argentina in Dallas, a brutally demanding sequence of physical, tactical and emotional challenges.
Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil)
November 2025
Brazil finished 2025 frustrated after a 1-1 draw with Tunisia, wasting clear chances and needing an Estevao Willian penalty to cancel out Hazem Mastouri’s opener, before Lucas Paqueta fired a second spot kick over and squandered the chance to seal a comeback win. Carlo Ancelotti said Paqueta was the designated taker and he moved the responsibility from Estevao Willian, to ease pressure on the youngster, while stressing he remains confident in a serious, united squad that must navigate a demanding schedule before the 2026 World Cup.
Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal)
November 2025
Arsenal fear Gabriel Magalhaes could miss up to two months after he left Brazil’s friendly against Senegal with a right thigh issue, a potential absence that would rule him out until mid January and remove a defensive cornerstone from a team chasing domestic and European trophies. Further scans will determine whether the layoff is closer to one month or two, but Gabriel now joins a crowded Arsenal injury list that already included Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus, even as Arteta’s squad has still climbed to the Premier League summit.
Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil)
November 2025
Carlo Ancelotti has made clear that Neymar still has a path to the 2026 World Cup but warned he will not gamble on reputation alone, stressing that the forward’s selection depends entirely on proving form and fitness after an injury-hit spell back at Santos. Neymar has not played for Brazil since tearing knee ligaments against Uruguay in 2023, later terminating his Al-Hilal deal before rejoining Santos. Ancelotti says the playmaker has six months of football to show consistent quality and physical condition before he finalises his World Cup squad.
Brazil national team and Gabriel (Arsenal)
November 2025
Brazil produced a fast, ruthless first half to beat Senegal 2-0, with Estevao (Chelsea) curling in the opener and Casemiro (Brazil) adding a controlled finish from a training ground routine. The win snapped Senegal’s long unbeaten run and showcased Brazil’s attacking depth. Edouard Mendy faced constant pressure as Matheus Cunha hit woodwork twice before the goals, while Senegal forced good stops from Ederson and missed a big Iliman Ndiaye chance. The night soured when Gabriel limped off with an adductor issue, prompting Carlo Ancelotti’s public apology and leaving Arsenal worried.
Vinícius Júnior, Carlo Ancelotti
November 2025
Ancelotti outlined a hybrid brief: left-wing base with selective central runs to exploit one-movement finishes. With Neymar absent, Brazil want Vinícius attacking space inside, not serving as a fixed reference, to sharpen goal output before the 2026 World Cup. The staff will rehearse lane switches, timed box entries, and transition triggers that preserve his wing threat while adding penalty-area presence. Club-form fluctuations are acknowledged; clarity of role, service patterns, and minutes management are expected to lift efficiency.