Olise says "I don't know" about Brazil and takes a dig at Bruno Guimarães before the World Cup

A simple answer from Michael Olise — “I don’t know” — when asked about Brazil’s chances of winning the 2026 World Cup was enough to provoke a reaction in the Seleção dressing room, just days before the tournament kicks off.

Bruno Guimarães, Newcastle midfielder and former Olympique Lyonnais player, spoke up early in the week to defend his national team against the lack of credit being given to it. His reply was direct: “Nobody wears five stars on their jersey.” The implication: Brazil, the only five-time world champion, deserves more consideration.

The Brazilian international also highlighted the quality of the squad assembled under new coach Carlo Ancelotti. “We have excellent players who shine in the best teams in the world, like Vinicius Junior and Raphinha. We must respect our players,” he insisted.

Brazil enters this World Cup in good form, after two warm-up victories against Panama (6-2) and Egypt (2-1). Their group stage campaign promises to be demanding from the start: the Seleção will face Morocco on June 14, semi-finalists at Qatar in 2022, before meeting Haiti on June 20 and Scotland on June 25.

Olise’s remark, brief as it was, had the merit of awakening a national pride that Brazil has not had the chance to express on the highest step since 2002 — its last World Cup victory, and its last final.