During the broadcast of Brazil and Egypt this Friday (6), attention was drawn to the scene of right-back Wesley crying on the bench after being forced to leave the friendly game in Cleveland due to an injury just 16 minutes into the match.
Playing as a winger for Roma on the left, the versatile 22-year-old from Maranhão seemed to emerge as the main candidate to take on the position lacking an owner in the Brazilian team during the World Cup.
He was replaced in the game against the Egyptians by experienced defender Danilo, aged 34, who has been a reserve at Flamengo and more used as a defender at the club.
In 2018 and 2022, Danilo was called up by Tite on the right, but ended up having his participation in both World Cups hampered by injuries, and until recently he seemed to be the name on the outside in the fight in 2026.
He had previously been announced by Carlo Ancelotti as one of those called up for his leadership role in the group. “Danilo is a very important player, not just on the field. It’s certain that he will be on the final list because I like him. As a character, as a personality, also as a game,” said the Italian at the time.
In ten matches under the Italian’s command, since June 2025, until the call-up, six players started as a starter on the right in the selection — Vanderson, Wesley, Vitinho, Paulo Henrique, Éder Militão and Ibañez.
Everything indicated that Ancelotti would use defender Militão, who was his athlete at Real Madrid and has already performed the role. The 28-year-old midfielder, however, had to undergo surgery on his left thigh and is out of the World Cup.
Of the sextet tested, in addition to the Roma player, only defender Ibañez, from Al Ahli, who can be improvised from the side, makes up the list of 26 called up by Ancelotti.
It was Danilo who had already replaced Wesley at halftime of the game against Tunisia, in the team’s last friendly in 2025, when the full-back did not have a good first half.
Wesley returned to the right side of the team in the difficult match against the French team and did well, but was unable to play in the next duel, against Croatia, due to a muscle injury in his thigh.
He was replaced by Ibañez, who helped the team in marking, but practically did not go beyond midfield.
On the left, the also experienced Alex Sandro, 35, from Flamengo, and Douglas Santos, 32, from Zenit, took turns in the last matches, without Ancelotti having indicated a clear preference so far.
In a recent interview with Galvão Bueno on SBT, Carlo Ancelotti spoke about the lack of options in a sector in which Brazil has always had an abundance, with names like Djalma Santos, Carlos Alberto Torres and Cafu.
“There has never been a lack of full-backs in Brazilian football, the country has always had fantastic players, Cafu, Marcelo… now we have a bit of a shortage. But we have smart players for that position, a young man, Wesley, who is doing very well at Roma”, said Ancelotti.
The CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) has not yet updated on Wesley’s physical situation. Brazil debuts in the World Cup next Saturday (13), against Morocco.
