One of the firmest pre-tournament favourites, Brazil have lived up to their tag so far at World Cup 2022, reaching the last eight for the eighth finals running – thanks to a comfortable 4-1 win over South Korea in the last 16.
Despite losing their final group game (which was ultimately inconsequential as they still finished top) 1-0 to Cameroon with a fully rotated starting 11, this Brazilian squad is stacked with quality across the board.
In attack, boss Tite is utterly spoilt for choice: talisman Neymar has missed two of his country's four games in Qatar through injury, but Richarlison has well and truly stepped up to the plate to further cement his spot as the Selecao's number nine: featuring at his first World Cup, the 25-year-old has scored three goals so far, including a brace (featuring a quite brilliant acrobatic effort) to secure a 2-0 win over Serbia in the opening match. And that's before we even get onto the wide threat provided by the likes of Vinicius Junior and Raphinha.
Any success for the five-time world champions this time around was also always likely to owe much to robust defensive foundations: Marquinhos and Thiago Silva have proved what an elite centre-back pairing they are (though goalkeeper Alisson provides an equally elite last line of defence), while Casemiro has knitted things together superbly in midfield, as well as scoring the only goal of the game against Switzerland to secure his team's passage to the knockout stages.
Croatia ought to provide Brazil's sternest test of this World Cup so far – but, with the form they've been showing, it's hard to see Neymar and co. do anything but progress to the nation's 11th semi-final (they finished as runners-up in 1950, but that tournament was unique in featuring a final group instead of a regular knockout stage and final).
Brazil World Cup 2022 squad
Brazil World Cup 2022 squad: The final 26-player team
- GK: Alisson Becker (Liverpool)
- GK: Ederson (Manchester City)
- GK: Weverton (Palmeiras)
- DF: Dani Alves (UNAM)
- DF: Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
- DF: Marquinhos (PSG)
- DF: Danilo (Juventus)
- DF: Alex Telles (Sevilla)
- DF: Alex Sandro (Juventus)
- DF: Eder Militao (Real Madrid)
- DF: Bremer (Juventus)
- MF: Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle)
- MF: Casemiro (Manchester United)
- MF: Lucas Paqueta (Lyon)
- MF: Fabinho (Liverpool)
- MF: Fred (Manchester United)
- MF: Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo)
- FW: Neymar (PSG)
- FW: Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)
- FW: Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
- FW: Antony (Manchester United)
- FW: Richarlison (Tottenham)
- FW: Raphinha (Barcelona)
- FW: Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
- FW: Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
- FW: Pedro (Flamengo)
Brazil results
Group stage:
Brazil 2-0 Serbia
Brazil 1-0 Switzerland
Cameroon 1-0 Brazil
Last-16:
Brazil 4-1 South Korea
Brazil World Cup top scorers
Here are Brazil's World Cup top scorers so far...
3 goals: Richarlison
2 goals: Neymar
1 goal: Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta, Vinicius Junior
Brazil yellow cards and suspensions
All World Cup 2022 yellow cards were wiped after the last 16, so Brazil currently have no players suspended.
1 yellow card (from quarter-finals onwards): Danilo, Casemiro, Marquinhos
Brazil results
Brazil results
Here are Brazil's results at the 2022 World Cup up to this point...
Group stage:
W 2-0 vs Serbia
W 1-0 vs Switzerland
L 0-1 vs Cameroon
Last 16:
W 4-1 vs South Korea
Brazil manager
Who is Brazil's manager for the 2022 World Cup?
A charismatic figure who at times comes across like a priest for the way he dresses and speaks, Tite has already announced that he will leave his post after the World Cup. He has transformed the team after the 7-1 Gotterdammerung in 2014 and their Copa America group-stage exit two years later. He’ll be a difficult man to replace.
Brazil's star player
Who is Brazil's best player?
Neymar is just two goals away from equalling Pele’s record as Brazil’s all-time top scorer. If that isn’t enough motivation, the PSG superstar has already hinted that this might be his last World Cup. Now aged 30, more mature and with a talented supporting cast, the number 10 must lead his team and leave the comedy theatrics behind.
How many have Brazil taken to the 2022 World Cup?
National managers were allowed to bring 26 players to last summer’s European Championship for the first time at a major tournament, as a special measure brought in due to the COVID-19 pandemic – while last year's Copa America allowed squads of 28 players.
It was then announced that 26-player squads would return for the Qatar World Cup, an expansion from the usual 23-man selections.
