Video: Ronaldo drinks beers with Ancelotti and makes 2026 World Cup call-up joke | OneFootball

Brazil national team head coach Carlo Ancelotti was seen enjoying himself during carnival celebrations in Rio De Janeiro over the weekend, and was spotted drinking a few beers with his former Milan striker Ronaldo: ‘I’m sure he’s loving the experience’.

Ancelotti was appointed as head coach of the Brazil national team in May last year, and will lead the Selecao into the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America this summer.

Brazil have already qualified for the World Cup and will next be in action against France and Croatia in a pair of international friendlies on March 26 and April 1 respectively.

epa12137464 Italian Carlo Ancelotti (L) and the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Samir Xaud, attend a press conference where Ancelotti was presented as new head coach of men’s Brazilian national soccer team, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 26 May 2025. EPA-EFE/ANDRE COELHO

Before then, Ancelotti has been able to take in some of the local culture and traditions at a series of carnival celebrations across the country. He was most recently in Rio along with a number of former Brazil stars including Ronaldo and Denilson.

As per local outlet ge.globo, Ancelotti and Ronaldo were based in boxes next to each other, and at one stage, Ronaldo passed the former Milan and Real Madrid coach on a float during a parade. They were filmed sipping on beers and waving at each other amidst the vast crowds.

What Ronaldo said about Ancelotti during Rio carnival

epa12137404 Italian Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference where he was presented as new head coach of men’s Brazilian national soccer team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 26 May 2025. EPA-EFE/Antonio Lacerda

Ronaldo was later stopped for a brief interview with ge.globo, discussing his relationship with Ancelotti and the prospects for the Italy national team/

“We were trying to select the World Cup squad, I included myself in there,” Ronaldo joked.

“I know him well and from the conversations we’ve had, I’m sure he’s loving the experience of being here and getting to know our people, working in Brazilian football, the most successful winner of World Cups.

“I’m sure he’s enjoying this energy of the Brazilian people rooting for him, because he’ll need it during the World Cup.”