Brazil President Advocates for Vinicius Junior’s Omission from National Team

Brazil’s president, Lula da Silva, has made a controversial statement suggesting that Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior and other players currently playing in Europe should be considered for omission from the national team. Vinicius Jr. is absent from Brazil’s October qualifiers for the FIFA 2026 World Cup due to an injury sustained while playing for Los Blancos, prompting some criticism regarding his absence.

Despite this criticism, Lula emphasized the importance of recognizing talent within Brazil itself. Following Brazil’s recent 2-1 victory over Chile, which featured goals from home-based players Luiz Henrique and Igor Jesus, the president highlighted the need for the national team to prioritize domestic talent.

“Those who are abroad are no better than those who are here,” Lula stated, as reported by Diario Sport. He pointed out that current Brazilian stars like Garrincha and Romario are not represented in Europe and called for a greater opportunity for local players. “In Brazil, there are good players of the same quality, so give opportunities to those who are here,” he added.

As Brazil prepares for their next match against Peru in Brasilia on October 16, followed by fixtures against Venezuela and Uruguay in November, Lula’s comments have reignited discussions about the balance between domestic and international players in the national team setup.