Alexsandro’s stuttering return leaves Brazil World Cup hopes distant | OneFootball

Back after three and a half months out in early January, Alexsandro has struggled to hit his level, and his World Cup hopes look distant.

L'Équipe notes that his outstanding last season had lifted the Lille centre-back up Brazil's pecking order, only for things to unravel on 10 September at 4,150 metres. Starting for the third time under Carlo Ancelotti, he left a 0-1 defeat to Bolivia in El Alto exhausted.

Four days later his right quadriceps failed against Toulouse, a 2-1 win, after coach Bruno Genesio and president Olivier Létang had warned about scheduling such a game. Lille announced surgery for early November, but he declined, choosing Aspetar in Qatar to speed up his recovery and chase World Cup selection.

The fast-track return backfired. Thrown in from the start against Rennes on 3 January, he lasted only 13 minutes before an avoidable red card in a 0-2 defeat.

Restored to the XI in Vigo on 22 January, his misplaced pass gifted Celta a goal after 30 seconds in a 1-2 loss, and he was withdrawn at half-time.

His third start of 2026 came at Metz last Friday, a 0-0 draw. Still jittery, he completed the match after a contentious tackle on Lucas Michal on 16 minutes. Encouraging, if not fully reassuring.

With Aïssa Mandi and Nathan Ngoy suspended, he will go again on Saturday against Brest. He urgently needs to raise his level to keep believing in a World Cup place, and the ground to make up is considerable.

Source: L'Équipe