adminLucas Paquetá’s difficult 2026 has taken another turn for the worse, as Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti delivered a major setback to Flamengo’s record signing.
The former West Ham United playmaker has been omitted from Brazil’s squad for the upcoming international friendlies against France and Croatia — a surprising decision given Ancelotti’s known admiration for the midfielder.
Paquetá only recently secured a dream return to boyhood club Flamengo during the January transfer window. However, with the World Cup just three months away, his timing could not be more unfortunate as he slips down the pecking order.
His struggles at Flamengo have not helped his case either. Brazilian outlet Terra described his start as “one of the worst” among the club’s signings in recent years, highlighting a worrying dip in form at a critical moment.
Speaking during his squad announcement, Ancelotti admitted he is still assessing his options:
“We have doubts in defence and midfield. We need to evaluate all players. Those not selected now can still make the final squad. Paquetá isn’t here today, but he could return. I wanted to take a closer look at new midfielders like Danilo and Gabriel Sara.”
Gabriel Sara, formerly of Norwich City, has quickly emerged as a serious rival for Paquetá’s attacking midfield role. Meanwhile, Matheus Cunha’s impressive performances at Manchester United and Andrey Santos’ continued development at Chelsea have further intensified competition.
Brazilian pundit Danilo Lavieri believes Paquetá’s place is now under real threat:
“I have doubts about his inclusion in the World Cup squad. Gabriel Sara is very similar to him and represents strong competition. Paquetá probably didn’t sleep well after this news.”
His omission is even more striking considering Newcastle captain Bruno Guimarães is currently sidelined with injury.
Ancelotti explained that his selections are about more than just ability:
“This is a final opportunity to understand these players better — not just their performance, but how they fit into the group, their mentality and character.”
Back in Brazil, Paquetá’s return to Flamengo has yet to meet expectations. Argentine side Lanús even mocked his hefty transfer fee after defeating Flamengo in the Recopa Sudamericana final.
Adding to his struggles, head coach Filipe Luís — who played a key role in bringing him back — has been replaced by Leonardo Jardim. On his debut, Jardim left Paquetá out of the starting lineup.
So far, the numbers reflect his underwhelming impact: just three goals and no assists in nine appearances, with most of his contributions coming against lower-tier opposition in the Rio State Championship.
For Paquetá, both club and country form must improve quickly — or risk missing out on football’s biggest stage.
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