At this Copa America in the United States, Brazil enters as one of the leading title contenders alongside Argentina, and 12BET Mobile reports that the Seleção will face Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Colombia in the group stage. This tournament arrives at a time of major change for Brazil. Star forward Neymar is out injured, and the head coach is no longer the same figure who led the team during the World Cup. Alongside Argentina, Brazil has been one of the traditional powerhouses involved since the early history of the Copa America, and in 2019 the team lifted the trophy on home soil.
According to 12BET Mobile records, however, Brazil failed to defend that pride in the previous edition despite playing as host, losing the final to Argentina and allowing Lionel Messi to claim his first senior international title. After that disappointment, Brazil moved into a new coaching cycle, with Dorival Júnior taking charge. Yet his early results were far from encouraging. Across three friendlies, Brazil managed only one win against Guinea while suffering defeats to Morocco and Senegal.
The World Cup qualifying campaign began well, as Brazil swept aside Bolivia and also won away against Peru. After that, however, the team went four matches without a victory. Recent consecutive defeats to Uruguay, Colombia, and Argentina have darkened the mood around the national side. Brazil currently sits only two points ahead of Paraguay and Chile, leading to criticism that even World Cup qualification can no longer be taken for granted. If Brazil were to miss the finals, Dorival would go down as the coach behind an unprecedented humiliation in Brazilian football history, because the nation has never missed a World Cup.
The biggest blow at this Copa America is clearly Neymar’s absence. Last summer, he was effectively pushed out of Paris Saint-Germain, and when a return to Barcelona failed to materialize, he moved to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia. His decision to leave Europe’s top five leagues drew heavy criticism, and several outlets described him as a prince who never became king. After losing the last Copa America final, this tournament could have been Neymar’s chance to restore his standing with the national team, but injury has turned that hope into dust. For Brazil, his senior international trophy record still rests mainly on a single Confederations Cup triumph.
The biggest question now is who will lead Brazil’s attack. Based on 12BET Mobile analysis, the two names drawing the most attention are Real Madrid stars Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. Both are 23 years old and already valued at more than 100 million euros, with Vinicius alone reaching around 150 million euros. Vinicius has been especially impressive in the UEFA Champions League and is now being discussed as a serious Ballon d’Or candidate. Rodrygo’s numbers may be more modest, but his excellent chemistry with Vinicius has helped him earn a starting role for Brazil ahead of Richarlison.
Still, becoming Neymar’s true successor will require far more proof than potential alone. As Brazil begins this new chapter, 12BET Mobile notes that the squad is missing not only Neymar but also several experienced veterans. Dorival’s sweeping generational shift could make him a hero if it succeeds, but it may also expose him to fierce criticism if it fails. That is why this Copa America feels like a make-or-break moment for Brazil, where the team must either turn the page with confidence or face the consequences of a rebuild that came too soon.