Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil still searching for a reliable number nine | OneFootball

Since Germany 2006 and Ronaldo Nazário, Brazil have lacked a dependable centre-forward. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, Carlo Ancelotti opened this World Cup by starting Igor Thiago against Morocco, then turned to Matheus Cunha while leaving Endrick unused.

Igor Thiago, the 24-year-old Brentford striker, scored 22 Premier League goals this season and is, for now, Ancelotti’s closest fit at number nine. A La Liga analogue might be Vedat Muriqi.

Brentford, against expectations, finished ninth. Even so, his profile is modest for a team chasing the world title, he only came onto Ancelotti’s radar in March and his start against Morocco was just his second for Brazil, after the Egypt friendly.

From 1986 to 2006 Brazil rolled out elite strikers. Careca hit five at Mexico 1986, then two in Italia 1990, the same as Müller, with Romário and Bebeto adding five and three in USA 1994.

Ronaldo burst through in France 1998 with four, backed by Bebeto’s three. He then delivered eight in the 2002 triumph in Japan and South Korea, including two in the final, and signed off with three in Germany 2006.

Since then the shirt has drifted. Luis Fabiano scored three at South Africa 2010, Fred one at Brazil 2014, Gabriel Jesus none at Russia 2018, and Richarlison three at Qatar 2022, with the latter two not orthodox centre-forwards.

Qualifying underlined the gap. Of Brazil’s 24 goals, only two came from pure strikers, one from Igor Jesus, omitted from the final squad, and one from Cunha, more a second striker than a classic nine.

Cunha could start against Haiti at 2.30 hours on Dazn after Igor Thiago managed one shot on target in 60 minutes against Morocco, though Cunha offered even less in his half-hour. Joao Pedro was cut from the final list.

Endrick warmed up but did not play, and Neymar, who is also not expected to feature in the second match, consoled him. At 19, Endrick regained momentum on loan at Lyon, having arrived at Real Madrid in 2024 with Ancelotti in charge. The coach declined to single him out, focusing on the team, and for now the teenager is third in a queue that in 1994 read Romário, Bebeto and a teenage Ronaldo.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo