Nottingham Forest striker Igor Jesus has reacted publicly after missing out on Brazil’s squad for the World Cup. The tone of his response is already drawing attention in Brazil.
The 24-year-old had been included in Carlo Ancelotti’s preliminary 55-man list after a strong season in England. However, he was ultimately left out of the final 26-man squad announced this week.
Instead, Ancelotti opted for Igor Thiago of Brentford and Endrick, now at Lyon, as his centre-forward options.
Rather than staying silent after the disappointment, Igor Jesus addressed the situation directly on his Instagram.
“Being left out of the World Cup hurts, but God has the best for me, and what was lost does not compare to what is still to come.”
Strong season but no World Cup place
Igor Jesus’ campaign at Nottingham Forest has been one of the more surprising success stories. It is among Brazilian forwards in the Premier League this season.
He finished with 16 goals in 52 appearances after arriving from Botafogo and initially starting the year behind Chris Wood in the pecking order.
Over time, he forced his way into the side and became one of Forest’s most important attacking players.
The striker himself recently admitted he struggled badly with the physical jump after moving to England. In an interview with TNT Sports Brazil, he said he felt “years behind” physically when he first arrived because of the strength and speed of Premier League defenders.
Still, he adapted quickly and ended the campaign among the most productive Brazilian forwards in England. That form had pushed him into Brazil contention.
Igor Jesus had already worked under Ancelotti once. He also received opportunities with previous managers in 2024, scoring once in four appearances during that period.
Because of that, his absence from the final World Cup list has become one of the more debated decisions in Brazil following the announcement.
Reaction seen positively in Brazil
Part of the reaction around Igor Jesus has less to do with frustration itself and more with how he handled it publicly.
Many players in similar situations either disappear completely or post bitter messages after being left out. Igor Jesus instead chose a calmer tone.
“The dream of a boy lives in the mind of a man who does not care about time. He only dreams of achieving it,” he said. “I wish my teammates the best of luck and I’ll be supporting them.”
A touch of class from the striker. Missing out on the World Cup will obviously sting, especially after Igor Jesus had moved himself into genuine contention during the season.
At the same time, the wider picture for Forest remains encouraging.
Jesus has increased his value significantly over the past year, recently attracted interest from clubs such as Juventus and Porto, and established himself in one of Europe’s toughest leagues.
The World Cup dream may have gone but his trajectory still points upward.
