Danilo: I can help Brazil through difficult times
The experienced defender talks national resilience, a tactical rebirth and the mentality needed to write a new chapter at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Brazil are well-accustomed to carrying the weight of expectation into each edition of the FIFA World Cup™, often arriving as one of the favourites to claim the coveted crown. Following a period of transition, the South American heavyweights now face a different reality: rebuilding belief among their supporters. Flamengo defender Danilo, who was the first player confirmed in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for this year’s global bonanza in North America, believes that the current Brazil cohort has what it takes to meet that challenge.
“I see our national team’s current situation as a reflection of the Brazilian people,” Danilo told FIFA in an interview. “They have suffered, frequently risen from the ashes and shown great resilience. They keep going; they fight on, they laugh, they cry, but in the end they celebrate – celebrate life and everything they have achieved – and that’s become a source of motivation for me.”
In the dressing room, the veteran views himself as a bridge between the coaching staff and the squad, using his experience to help bring the best out of the younger players around him.
“We’re a very young team, and the vast majority of our players ply their trade in Europe, where they’ve developed a strong and highly professional mindset,” said Danilo. “I think that we, the more experienced players, can contribute our willingness for hard work and sacrifice and help those around us to understand that difficult moments come and go.”
The situation is not so different at Flamengo, the Rio de Janeiro giants he joined in January 2025. There, his impact has also been felt beyond the pitch – though his footballing contributions should not be overlooked either, given that he steered home the header that sealed last year’s CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores title . Behind the scenes, Danilo’s influence can be seen in the Rubro-Negro’s organisation, fearless mentality and proactivity – qualities that he brings to the fore at Granja Comary, Brazil’s national training centre on the outskirts of Teresopolis.
“Problem-solving, adapting and finding a way through difficult times are things I always try to bring to the national team,” said the defensive anchor.
Brazil are also undergoing a significant tactical renaissance. Long associated with attack-minded full-backs, the Canarinha have been seeking greater defensive balance, giving their wingers more space and responsibility to attack.
“That change actually began at the World Cup in 2022, and it’s been happening not only with Brazil but across world football in general,” said Danilo. “It’s about understanding the distances in the game and knowing what gives the team greater attacking threat while preparing for defensive transitions.”
Danilo says that he refined his own tactical understanding while playing for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City between 2017 and 2019. He also highlighted a broader evolution in modern football, where the full-back role demands greater awareness of passing angles, pressing distances and overall team balance.
“The way that position is interpreted has evolved, and today very few full-backs are expected to spend the whole game bombing up and down the wing,” he added. “The focus is on balance, managing distances and pressing at the right moments. We have players with different attributes who can offer various solutions depending on who we’re up against.”
For Danilo, Ancelotti’s decision to make him the first confirmed name for the international extravaganza in Canada, Mexico and the United States represents another milestone in his own Seleção story that began in the youth ranks and included FIFA U-20 World Cup™ glory in 2011.
The leadership he shows both on and off the pitch reflects a professional approach centred on giving Brazil the best possible platform to succeed on the world stage.
“I really believe in the benefits of routine and good habits; where I am today is the result of years of hard work,” he concluded. “The recognition makes me happy, but it also comes with a great deal of responsibility. I’m fully focused on helping create the right conditions for us to write a stunning new chapter into Brazil’s World Cup history.”