Perhaps most importantly, this club-level surge offers hope for their national team, record five-time world champions.
Ancelotti, who guided the Spanish giants to several titles alongside the Brazilian forward, including two Champions League triumphs and two LaLiga crowns, said that his unique ability to unsettle opposing defences made him a vital asset.
At 65, the Italian star manager, who has five Champions League titles under his belt, is taking the reins of a national team for the first time.
“He never offends anyone,” Ze Maria continued. “Even when he gets angry, he doesn’t cross that line. That earns you respect.”
The former defender knows Ancelotti well after they shared two seasons at Real Madrid.
According to Globo Esporte, the Santos icon has been included in Brazil’s preliminary squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, even though he has not featured for club or country since suffering a fresh injury on April 16 against Atlético Mineiro.
"If we changed four coaches in less than three years, something isn't working (...) In my opinion, Ancelotti was brought in to get results, so we have to help him," said Dunga, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994 and former coach of the national team.
Widely considered the greatest female footballer of all time, the number 10 last wore the Brazil jersey in the Olympic final, losing 1-0 to the United States on August 10 in Paris.
Brazil wants to reclaim its crown. Ancelotti wants one final masterpiece. The timing may be perfect.
The veteran Italian has one more year on his contract with the Spanish giants but after quarter-final Champions League elimination by Arsenal and Copa del Rey defeat by rivals Barcelona, is poised to depart the Santiago Bernabeu.
Carlo Ancelotti had long been seen as the ideal candidate, but the Italian legend reaffirmed his commitment to Real Madrid until 2026. That opens the door to a new round of speculation. Al Hilal’s Jorge Jesus leads the shortlist, while Palmeiras’ Abel Ferreira, another Portuguese tactician with Brazilian experience, is also in contention.
“We have to rethink everything we’ve been doing, because the demands will come; the people want us to win,” he said.
The five-times world champions had taken a sixth-minute lead in Brasilia through a Raphinha penalty only for Luis Diaz's fine 41st-minute strike for Colombia to level the game.
"South American football has grown a lot overall. If you look at the majority of the national line-ups, you see players playing in teams all over the world, which wasn't the case until recently," he said.
The win moves Brazil into fourth place in the standings with 13 points from nine games, six points adrift from leaders Argentina.
Considered by many the greatest footballer of all time, Edson Arantes do Nascimento -- better known as Pele -- won three World Cups with Brazil and scored more than 1,000 goals over his storied career.
A set of poor results could generate a lot more unwanted pressure for A Seleção.
"I'm very grateful to God for another opportunity to score for the national team," said Endrick.
Coach Dorival Junior, who assumed the Brazil job in January, decided to rest first-choice players such as Vinicius Jr, Endrick, Rodrygo and Raphinha. However, the alternative line-up paid off as they took an early lead when Andreas Pereira scored from a Savio pass in the 5th.
