Carlo Ancelotti, the renowned coach of the Brazilian national team, wears a serious face on a daily basis. He’s not very smile-friendly, at least not in public.
That changed briefly during Brazil’s World Cup squad this month. Before announcing the attackers, he said: “Now comes the beautiful thing.” And he smiled lightly, without showing his teeth, about to list those chosen for the sector, starting with Endrick and ending with Vinicius Junior.
Going back in time a minute, when listing the defenders, total seriousness. It’s understandable not just with the Italian, anyone could remain serious, as defense in football is no place to joke.
If it were different, a wide smile would have to be seen at the mention of the names of Marquinhos, from PSG, and Gabriel Magalhães, from Arsenal. Given their current level, any coach, from any club or national team, would like to have them in the starting lineup.
Ancelotti is lucky to be the only one who can bring them together. And it will do so, barring physical setbacks from one or the other, at the World Cup in North America, which starts on the 11th – Brazil debuts on the 13th, a Saturday, against Morocco.
With Carletto, who took over in May last year, Marquinhos and Magalhães played together, due to impediment due to injury or suspension of one or the other, in only two of the ten matches. In them, there were victories in which the national goal was not leaked: 3-0 in Chile, in the World Cup qualifiers, and 2-0 in Senegal, in a friendly.
The recent security that the duo brings to the team becomes clear when taking as a universe the 18 games played by Brazil after the failure in the 2024 Copa América, when Magalhães began to be called up consistently.
In the nine matches in which the duo M and M were side by side in defense (Marquinhos on the right and Magalhães, left-handed, on the left), the team accumulated six wins, two draws and a single defeat (the meager 1-0 to Paraguay, at Defensores del Chaco, in Asunción). Goals conceded: five (never more than one per match).
In the other nine games without the two Ms, or with just one of them, three wins, two draws and four defeats, including the 4-1 defeat by Argentina, without Messi, at the Monumental, in Buenos Aires. Goals conceded: 12.
One is 32 years old (Marquinhos), the other is 28 (Magalhães), they are mature. Insurance. And complementary.
In football, it is said that a great defense combines a calm and technical player with a vigorous and explosive one. Captain of the team, Marquinhos is meticulous and majestic, he leads without shouting. Magalhães, in his magenta likeness, could equally captain the team, energetic and vibrant as it is.
Both are also dangerous weapons in attack, in set pieces. Arsenal de Magalhães won the English Championship after a 22-year drought with efficiency from corners – and three goals and four assists from the Brazilian. Marquinhos, after a corner kick, already gave Brazil the victory at the end of the game, against Peru, in 2023, with a header.
With Marquinhos and Magalhães, Brazil owes nothing to anyone when it comes to good ball skills. This Saturday (30), however, the “and” will give way to the “or”. It will be M or M, as they will face each other in the Champions League final, in the clash that ends the European season.
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