Ex-Brazil striker backs Seleção, prays for Neymar fit | OneFootball

In an interview with the El Fútbol podcast, legendary former striker Careca analyzed the Seleção’s identity crisis, Neymar’s role, and looked back on the golden years alongside “El Pibe de Oro” in Italy.

Antônio Careca is an authority when it comes to finding the net at World Cups.

Runner-up in the scoring charts at the 1986 World Cup and the owner of an enviable career in the yellow shirt, the former player spoke openly on the El Fútbol podcast about Brazil’s current moment, memories from his national team days, and the deep friendship he built with Diego Armando Maradona.

📸 RUDI SCHRADER - 2011 AFP

Brazil National Team

For Careca, representing Brazil in the biggest tournament on the planet was never just another game.

He recalled the 1982 and 1986 squads, packed with stars such as Zico, Sócrates and Falcão, describing the mix of pressure and glory that defines the Seleção:

"We always feel enormous pressure because the team is there representing its country. It’s always a huge responsibility, but it was also a source of pride. Every time you win, it’s phenomenal. But when you lose, it’s crap. That’s how it is."

The former No. 9, however, looks at the current 24-year drought without a world title with concern.

For him, the problem goes beyond the pitch and includes a weakening of the sense of belonging to the national team.

"It’s important [to talk about this] because we’ve lost a bit of our identity when wearing the yellow shirt. There were players who no longer wanted to wear the shirt, who no longer wanted to play in the World Cup. In the past, I had more passion for wearing Brazil’s shirt, because it’s a source of pride."

Looking at the squad heading toward the 2026 World Cup, Careca sees a chronic dependence on Neymar, whom he considers the country’s last unquestionable idol, capable of inspiring the new generation that now makes up the team.

"Today we’re in a difficult situation, but we have young players I really believe in, like Endrick, Rayan and Vinícius Júnior, who is a great player at Real Madrid. But I think we’re missing a great idol. I hope Neymar can be 100% physically fit in the final stages to help the Seleção go a little further."

Asked about the arrival of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti to take charge of Brazil, the former striker admitted it is a historic first that divides opinion, but defended the decision based on the coach’s ability to manage people.

"It’s a gamble, let’s put it that way. A big gamble. But he knows how to handle the dressing room, right? He knows how to work with players mentally. He’s a bit like a father to everyone. Ancelotti is a great manager of personalities, of people, of great idols. That’s why we’re confident he can do a good job."

Devotion to Maradona

Careca’s path with the national team collided head-on with Argentina at the 1990 World Cup, a tense clash marked by the roughness of the Argentine defenders.

Curiously, his friendship with the rival No. 10 was so strong that, after Brazil’s elimination, Careca admitted he switched sides in the stands: "From that elimination on, I’m Argentine and I’ll support Argentina."

That loyalty to Maradona was born much earlier, when Careca turned down offers from Torino and Real Madrid to sign for modest Napoli.

The reason? To play alongside his idol. And the chemistry did not take long to appear.

"It was a dream to make that happen together with Diego. When I arrived in 1987, I met Diego there and within five or ten minutes we already understood each other. It was all spectacular."

More than a football genius, Careca describes his friend as a fundamental pillar in his adaptation to southern Italy, where the passion of the fans could be suffocating, preventing the players from having a normal life on the streets of Naples.

Away from the spotlight and the photographers surrounding their homes, the two created a family-like bond.

"Diego was a very simple, lovable person, with a giant heart. He was always at my house to eat the feijoada with black beans that he liked, and also barbecue, although for me Brazilian barbecue is better than Argentine."

The news of Maradona’s death, years later, caught Careca off guard in a cruel way: he was informed by phone by former player Vampeta while the latter was live on a radio show.

In disbelief, he hung up and sought confirmation from Claudia, the Argentine star’s ex-wife.

"It was a friendship, a true and sincere love. Because I cared very deeply for Diego. It’s a sin that he left so early. Today Diego is no longer with us, but he is in our hearts."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 NELSON ALMEIDA - AFP