Newcastle United will welcome the evolution of Bruno Guimarães as he becomes one of the new captains of Brazil’s national team.
The midfielder already carries that role at St James’ Park since 2024, and now his leadership has expanded to the international stage under Carlo Ancelotti. At 28, he enters his second World Cup cycle with far more influence than he had in 2022.
Speaking to Globo Esporte, Guimarães made clear that the shift was natural and encouraged by experienced voices in the national team. “I accepted this responsibility of being a leader, even though I’m young,” he said.
A different chapter inside the Seleçao
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, one of Brazil’s senior figures, told him he was among the players that deserved captaincy, which pushed him to embrace a more active leadership role. The midfielder now leads both with and without the ball.
He detailed how Ancelotti shaped this transition. “He gave us extra calm. He has more than 1,200 matches as a manager. He called me for a talk. He asked if I prefer to play on the right or on the left, as a first or second midfielder.”
Guimarães described a manager who gives freedom but demands intensity. “He always says we have more talent, but we need hard work.”
All eyes on the World Cup
The midfielder noted that Brazil needed a tactical correction after a fragile defensive cycle. “We were conceding too many chances. Since Ancelotti arrived, we stopped conceding goals, except against Japan. In the World Cup you cannot concede. With the quality we have up front, 1-0 is enough to go through.”
He also reflected on the weight of 2022. “After the Cameroon match I missed two or three goals I’d normally score. Even friends sent angry messages. The World Cup is huge.” His message for 2026 is clear: “Forget everything outside and focus on the group.”
Guimarães believes Brazil remain favourites, listing France, Spain, Argentina and England as the strongest competitors. He stressed that small details define knockout football. That experience, added to Ancelotti’s guidance, fuels his confidence.
Newcastle now see one of their main players arrive at 2026 with a more complete profile. Guimarães enters the tournament as a technical reference, a vocal leader and one of the most consistent names of the Brazilian cycle.
The next steps will depend on Brazil’s run under Ancelotti, but his expanded role is already clear.
