Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has jokingly said he would consider including Lionel Messi in the Brazil national team, a remark made in a light-hearted context and not intended as a serious proposal.
The comment came after Lula was asked about Brazil’s performance in the current World Cup. In their opening match, the five-time world champions were held to a 1–1 draw by Morocco. The result was widely regarded as below expectations among supporters, many of whom were left unconvinced by Brazil’s display.
In contrast, Argentina, Brazil’s long-standing rivals, made a strong start to the tournament. They defeated Algeria 3–0 in their opening match, with Lionel Messi scoring a hat-trick in what was described as his first World Cup hat-trick. Following this result, journalists questioned President Lula about the contrasting fortunes of the two South American giants.
Responding with humour, Lula said: “I was thinking whether Messi could be brought into the Brazil team.” The remark was made in a joking tone and should be understood in that context.
Despite Brazil’s underwhelming start, Lula did not express serious concern about the team’s overall prospects. He suggested that Morocco may be the most difficult opponent in Brazil’s group. He also added that public doubt often precedes success for Brazil in World Cups, noting that when people question Brazil, the team has historically responded with strong performances.
Reported Match Results
| Team | Opponent | Score | Key Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Morocco | 1–1 | Opening match draw |
| Argentina | Algeria | 3–0 | Lionel Messi hat-trick |
Brazil are scheduled to play their second group match on 20 June against Haiti. However, there are reports of uncertainty surrounding Neymar’s availability for the fixture. It has been suggested that he may be ruled out of the match against Haiti, and there is also doubt over his participation in the final group-stage game.
At the same time, there was a more positive update regarding Neymar’s condition. After recovering from injury, he returned to training with the squad on Wednesday for the first time. During a light training session, upon noticing journalists, Neymar reportedly smiled and shouted: “Did you miss me?”
The combination of Lula’s humorous remarks, Brazil’s mixed opening performance, and ongoing concerns over key player fitness has kept the team in the spotlight during the early stages of the tournament. While the President’s comments were clearly made in jest, they came amid heightened public and media scrutiny of Brazil’s form and squad situation as the competition progresses.