In an interview given to Flashscore just hours before Brazil open their World Cup campaign, Alexandre Pato named Brazil as one of the main contenders for the title. For the former Brazilian striker, the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti is a decisive added value: “He has won everything, he’s the best in the world.”

The excitement surrounding the new era of Brazil under Carlo Ancelotti is growing day by day. Among the most passionate supporters of the Italian coach is also Alexandre Pato, who looks to the Seleção’s future with great confidence and has no doubts about the Brazilian federation’s choice.

The former full-back who won the World Cup with France in 1998 speaks exclusively to Flashscore ahead of the 2026 edition: memories, analysis, the impossible comparison between Zidane and Mbappe, and a piece of advice worth more than any prediction.

Some World Cups never end. The 1998 one, for Vincent Candela, is one of those: every year it feels as though he is reliving it alongside the protagonists of that first, unforgettable French World Cup triumph: “It was a fantastic group: we still see each other every year!”