Ronaldo blasts Ancelotti and Vinicius after Brazil's elimination by Norway

Brazil was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the round of 16 by Norway (1-2) on Sunday evening, with Erling Haaland scoring twice. The defeat immediately triggered criticism from Ronaldo, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner and Seleçao icon.

“Frankly, I think this elimination is due to the decisions made on the bench,” said R9, cited by AS. While acknowledging that Ancelotti is “one of the best coaches in football history,” he felt the Italian tactician had “made too many mistakes” during the match. Ronaldo notably regretted that Endrick was not used more on the pitch.

The former striker also questioned the squad composition. “I still don’t understand why Joao Pedro wasn’t in the squad,” he lamented. “He had an exceptional season, he’s in great form, and Brazil needed a striker capable of bringing something different.”

Ronaldo did not spare Vinicius Junior either. “Vinicius Junior must also take responsibility. We all know his talent, but this World Cup was not up to his expectations. He never found his usual level of play, the one that makes him dominant at club level.” The verdict is harsh for a star who had nonetheless carried Real Madrid in the Ligue des Champions in recent seasons.

Brazil had already struggled to get through the first round, narrowly beating Japan (2-1) to reach the round of 16. This new disappointment confirms the gradual decline of the five-time world champions on the international stage. “When Brazil needed its best players, they were never really up to the task,” Ronaldo concluded.