Guimarães injured, Paquetá set for Brazil starting XI return | OneFootball

Former Teammates at Lyon (FRA) Competing for a Spot in the Brazilian National Team

Midfielder Bruno Guimarães has a grade three injury in his left thigh. As a result, the Brazilian will miss games for Newcastle (ENG) as well as the Brazilian National Team, which is likely to lead to Lucas Paquetá’s return to the starting lineup for the Seleção.

According to information from ESPN, Bruno will undergo treatment for the injury in Brazil, and the estimated recovery time is eight to ten weeks away from the pitch. However, this period does not necessarily rule the midfielder out of the World Cup, which takes place in June.

How Does Paquetá Gain Space with This Situation?

Coach Carlo Ancelotti chose Bruno Guimarães in the starting eleven, leaving Paquetá on the bench. In the last game for the Brazilian National Team, for example, the Flamengo star only came on in the second half to replace his Newcastle teammate.

Therefore, the expectation is that Paquetá will take over the starting position in the upcoming matches for the Seleção. Thus, Carlo Ancelotti’s squad will face France on March 26 and Croatia on March 31. Both matches are friendlies.

Will Ancelotti Call Up Lucas Paquetá for the World Cup?

In September 2025, after Lucas Paquetá scored in Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Chile, the coach heaped praise on the player. According to the Italian manager, Paquetá’s quality is important for the team, also highlighting his versatility.

— Paquetá, with the quality he has, must be with us. I said yesterday that he can play in different ways. Today he played as a midfielder, but he has no problem playing as a defensive midfielder. I know he can play as an attacking midfielder, alone, because he has great skill in ball control, — emphasized the coach.

When Does the World Cup Take Place?

With Paquetá on the radar, Brazil will debut at the 2026 World Cup on June 13. Thus, the Seleção’s first opponent is Morocco in Group C, which also includes Scotland and Haiti.

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