BRASILIA.– The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, lifted and kissed the original FIFA World Cup trophy this Thursday during an official ceremony held in Brasilia, where he expressed his full confidence that the Brazilian national team will conquer its sixth world title.
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In his speech, the president set aside the prepared speech in which he reviewed the historical trajectory of the national team in the World Cups, from the defeat against Portugal in 1966 to the remembered team of 1970 and iconic moments of past qualifiers.
“We are completing 24 years without a title, but I am convinced that we are going to win this Cup,” Lula affirmed. The president revealed that he spoke with the current coach, Carlo Ancelotti, whom he described as a serious and focused coach, determined to call up only players who are in top condition. “He is not going to call anyone by name,” he emphasized.
Legends accompany the act
The ceremony brought together emblematic figures of Brazilian soccer, both male and female. Among those present were Cafu, captain of the five-time championship; Pepe, two-time world champion; and Formiga, historic midfielder who played in seven World Cups and seven Olympic Games.
Jairzinho, a figure from the 1970 World Cup, also participated; Branco, champion in 1994; and Edmílson, a member of the team that won the title in 2002.
Following FIFA protocol, the trophy —made of solid gold— was presented to the leader by Cafu, the last Brazilian captain to lift the Cup, as only heads of state and world champions can touch it.
The event is part of the “Tour of the Cup”, an initiative that will take the trophy through 30 FIFA member countries, with 75 stops over more than 150 days before the start of the next World Cup, the largest in the history of the tournament, which will feature 48 teams and three host countries.
With enthusiasm and optimism, Lula reiterated his confidence that Brazil will return to the top of world football.
