Ronaldo de Lima has been part of four separate World Cups as a Brazil winner, a run that has cemented his reputation as one of the competition’s historic leading scorers. But the tournament is now unfolding for him from a notably different angle than it did when he was running onto the pitch as a player and chasing goals at the highest level.
Still, the former striker is convinced Brazil can make another deep run and claim a sixth World Cup crown. He pointed to the club experience and temperament of coach Carlo Ancelotti, saying he has “tremendous confidence” in the Italian’s ability to steady the group, reduce the noise around the team, and help players perform at their best. Ronaldo added that Ancelotti understands football in a way that few can match, and that he knows how to manage pressure in the moments that decide major tournaments. “I wouldn’t choose any other coach for the Seleção right now,” he said.
Ronaldo also made clear he is in favour of bringing Neymar into Brazil’s World Cup plans. In his view, Neymar is the type of match-winner who can tilt a game in Brazil’s favour when it matters most, noting that he does not see anyone else in the current squad with the same kind of game-changing impact. He argued that the opportunity should not be missed because Neymar has been cleared by doctors, is in good physical condition, and now has the chance to silence the doubts that followed him. Ronaldo even drew a comparison to his own comeback in 2002, when Brazil ultimately lifted the trophy that year.
With Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé having moved past him on the World Cup scoring standings, Ronaldo said that “all records are meant to be broken.” However, he insisted that the rise of new goal-getters does not lessen what a player achieves across a career. He described Messi as one of the greatest footballers in the sport’s history who continues to be both influential and decisive. Regarding Mbappé, Ronaldo said the forward’s playing style reminds him of his own peak years, calling him one of the game’s top performers today and a natural successor to the sport’s standout figures.
When asked about the title picture, Ronaldo named France, Spain and Argentina as his favourites to win the World Cup, while stressing that those teams also represent Brazil’s most significant rivals in the race for the championship.
Looking ahead to France’s coaching future, L’Équipe has suggested that Zinedine Zidane could be in line to take charge of Les Bleus, a storyline that has circulated for some time. Ronaldo backed that notion, saying he has “always” believed Zidane has the ideal profile for the role—citing talent, experience, tactical awareness, and the right character. He added that it is not just a guess, pointing instead to Zidane’s record of strong work at Real Madrid.
