Brazil’s number nine dilemma: Carlo Ancelotti’s Options Ranked Before the World Cup | OneFootball

Brazil boasts a lineage of talent few football nations can match. Record five-time winners of the FIFA World Cup, the South Americans will travel to this summer's tournament with ambitions of extending that record.

For all the talent at Carlo Ancelotti's disposal, however, qualification was challenging for Brazil, with major question marks remaining over who will lead the line.

A country that once produced Romario, Ronaldo Nazario, Adriano, and more now lacks, arguably, a genuinely elite number nine.

As theWorld Cup approaches, we've ranked the names in the frame to be the Selecao's striker of choice this summer.

10. Gabriel Jesus

Once viewed as the future of Brazil's forward line, Gabriel Jesus's stock has fallen.

An injury-hit time atArsenal has coincided with a fall from favour at international level, with Jesus having not been capped since 2023.

His record for Brazil also does not make for good reading. He's scored a respectable 19 times in 64 caps, but just once in 29 caps since the 2019 Copa America.

9. Evanilson

Twice capped for Brazil in 2024, Evanilson has struggled to get a look in ever since. He earned his first appearances for the national team after scoring 26 times for FC Porto in 2024-25, a return that led to a £40m move toBournemouth.

He's scored 16 times in 58 Premier League appearances for the Cherries, a return that looks unlikely to lead to a recall without improvement.

8. Vitor Roque

The 21-year-old has found form since returning to Brazil to sign for Palmeiras in 2025. A high-profile move to Barcelona as a teenager stunted his development, but Roque has shone in South America to score 25 goals in 69 games and earn inclusion in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year.

A long-term prospect, this summer's tournament may come too soon for the two-cap forward.

7. Kaio Jorge

An unknown quantity to many outside South America circles, Jorge's time in Italy delivered minimal impact before exploding back in Brazil.

The 24-year-old scored 26 goals for Cruzeiro last season to earn a Brazil debut against Chile last September. Jorge was the top scorer in Campeonato Mineiro with seven goals in 2026, including the final winner against Athletic Mineiro.

6. Neymar

The last dance?

Brazil's record goalscorer battled through injuries to save Santos last season and has started the 2026 campaign with promise, scoring twice in three appearances.

Carlo Ancelotti is monitoring the 34-year-old ahead of March's fixtures, but it would pose a big risk to selectNeymar given his fitness record. The veteran has not played top-tier club football since leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.

5. Richarlison

One of the more experienced names on this list and a player with tournament experience for Brazil, Richarlison has endured a barren run for the national team since impressing at the 2022 World Cup.

He hasn’t scored since that tournament, a run of 13 caps, while injuries have prevented more opportunities. At club level, he's scored nine times this season for aTottenham Hotspur side sliding towards potential Premier League relegation.

4. Endrick

Endrick's dream of representing Brazil at the World Cup is alive again after a loan move to Lyon in January. The teenager barely featured forReal Madrid across the first six months of the campaign, but has scored five times in nine appearances since a mid-season move to France.

Though still just 19, he's already featured 14 times for the national team, scoring three goals. He's expected to be included in March's squad for friendlies with France and Croatia.

3. Igor Thiago

The wildcard option, Igor Thiago has never been capped by Brazil at any level. This season, however, he's the leading Brazilian goalscorer across Europe's top five leagues, with 18 goals forBrentford.

It's an incredible indication of Brentford's rise that Brazil's number nine could be plying his trade in West London, but Thiago's terrific form deserves a March call-up at the very least.

2. Matheus Cunha

Brazil have experimented withMatheus Cunha at centre-forward, though it's a role that does not bring the best from the Manchester United man.

Cunha's best games have come as a second striker, where his ability to drive forward in possession shines. He's scored just once in 19 caps for Brazil and has netted only six times in the Premier League this season.

However, his versatility - and a record of 27 league goals over the previous two campaigns - should earn him a place on the plane.

1. Joao Pedro

Perhaps the frontrunner,Joao Pedro has hugely impressed during his debut campaign at Chelsea. The forward has taken his £60m transfer in his stride, scoring 18 times in all competitions for the West Londoners, including eight in his last eight league games.

Earlier this month, Chelsea bossLiam Rosenior said that Pedro now belongs in the same category as players including Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

“Joao is in that category now. Consistently in the two months that I’ve been here, he’s shown that he is a world-class striker," he said.

He's yet to open his goal account for Brazil, in six caps, in what is perhaps the biggest question mark.