Ronaldo Nazário, the original Ronaldo and one of the greatest strikers to ever lace up boots, has never been shy about speaking his mind. So when Brazil crashed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the round of 16, it was only a matter of time before he weighed in on what went wrong. His target: the decision to leave Chelsea forward João Pedro out of the squad entirely.
The critique carries weight. João Pedro put up 15 goals in 35 appearances during the 2025-26 Premier League season and was named Chelsea’s Player of the Season.
The selection controversy
Coach Carlo Ancelotti, who took over the Brazilian national team with the mandate of restoring its former glory, opted for experience and tactical balance when assembling his World Cup roster. That meant seasoned names like Neymar made the cut. João Pedro, with only 8 prior caps for Brazil, did not.
Ronaldo’s position is straightforward. A player with an “outstanding season” at one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs deserved a spot. The round-of-16 exit only amplified the second-guessing.
