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Two legends face to face
Earlier this week, two of football’s most beloved legends met for a chat.
Xavi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or nominee and 2010 World Cup winner with Spain, sat down for an interview with Romário, the 1994 World Cup winner with Brazil, who was awarded the re-evaluated Ballon d’Or from that year in 2016.
The former Barcelona player, now 46 and who played in Catalonia for 17 years, spoke about the possibility of coaching teams in Brazilian football, or even the Brazilian national team: “I’m open to any project in my coaching career – the national team, clubs… everything. It’s always nice to take on a good project, especially one where we can win. I like that. I consider myself a winner. I love football for that reason: to enjoy it and to win. That’s the goal. And why not Brazil?” (Romário TV)
From maestro on the pitch to the voice of the dressing room
Regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in the history of the sport, Xavi not only won the World Cup in 2010 with Spain, but also the European Championship in 2008 and 2012, as well as four Champions Leagues and eight La Liga titles with Barça.
After retiring from the pitch, he decided to pursue a career in coaching, managing Al-Sadd in Qatar between 2019 and 2021. With the club, he won seven titles and was even voted the league’s best manager in his final season.
After making his mark in the Middle East, he returned to his beloved Barcelona in 2021 – this time no longer as a player, but as a manager. His spell in charge of the Blaugrana had its ups and downs, but still yielded significant honours before his departure in 2024, including La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup in 2023.
But is a Brazilian national team led by Xavi really possible?
Well, the Spaniard undoubtedly has strong ties to Brazil.
Brazilian connection at Barça
As a player, Xavi’s career became intertwined with some of the biggest names in Brazilian football.
“Brazil is football.” – Xavi
Between the late 1990s and the early 2000s, he played alongside the 1999 Ballon d’Or winner, Rivaldo. Although it was a difficult period in the club’s history, Xavi still fondly remembers how Rivaldo led the team through tough times, with great quality and versatility: “He was a completely different player, one whom I think the team at that time couldn’t keep up with.” (Romário TV) To this day, Rivaldo remains among the top 10 all-time goalscorers in the club’s history, with 130 goals.
Later, in the early 2000s, Xavi began sharing the team with the 2005 Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldinho, whose creativity and energy breathed new life into the squad: “Ronaldinho, I think, brought everyone together – with his energy, his magic, his smile – and led us to success at the club.” (Romário TV) Together, they won two La Liga titles and the Champions League in 2006, marking the turnaround for a Barça side that had been in decline.
And then, in his final years at the club, Xavi shared the pitch with none other than Neymar, a nine-time Ballon d’Or nominee. The Brazilian star became an idol in Catalonia during his four seasons at the club, and for good reason. As Xavi himself said: “I haven’t seen a player closer to Messi than the 21-year-old Neymar who arrived at Barcelona.” (Romário TV) In Xavi’s final season at Barça, alongside Ney, he won both La Liga and the Champions League.
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As Barcelona manager, Xavi even tried to bring Neymar back to the club, but was ultimately blocked by Financial Fair Play rules.
However, he did manage to work with other Brazilian talents during his time as Barça manager – although some people have questioned the way he handled these players.
Brazilian talent under his command: praise and controversy
One of the most talked-about cases was that of Raphinha, who joined the club in 2022. The Brazilian forward, who later shone at Barça under Hansi Flick and finished fifth in last year’s Ballon d’Or, struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular under Xavi. Often substituted in the second half, he eventually expressed frustration at his lack of playing time: “I didn’t feel that he [Xavi] and the coaching staff trusted me. When there was no one else [to come on], I was there, I played the full 90 minutes, gave everything I could and decided the games. But when there was someone to come on in my place, [they took me off] without a second thought.” (Isabella Pagliari)
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In response, Xavi made it clear that the decision had nothing to do with a lack of confidence in Raphinha. He even stated that it was his insistence and admiration for the player that convinced the club to sign him: “I signed Raphinha. It was me who sealed the deal with him and asked the club to sign him. [...] I’ve always had confidence in him and I also have a very good relationship with him. But the manager needs to understand that, during matches, what counts is performance. If you’re not performing, I have to bring someone else on. [...] We’ve always seen a lot of talent in Raphinha, and I’m happy for him, because he’s a good lad, a winner, responsible – and a leader.” (Romário TV)
Xavi also faced similar criticism for the way he handled Vitor Roque following the young forward’s arrival at Barça, after a standout year with Athletico Paranaense in 2023. In his first season at the Catalan club, Roque saw little playing time and ended up being loaned to Real Betis, before returning to Brazil to join Palmeiras the following year.
The player’s agent, André Cury, did not mince his words when criticising Xavi’s management at the time: “[Vitor Roque] needs to play more minutes and nobody understands why they aren’t giving him that. Xavi never spoke to him, so it’s a situation that isn’t good for either party.” (RAC1 Radio) Many people in Brazil also expressed frustration at the lack of opportunities given to one of the country’s most promising talents.
But Xavi responded to the criticism by saying that the situation was influenced by the unexpected injuries to Gavi and Alejandro Balde, which ended up bringing Roque’s arrival in Spain forward. According to him, this meant the striker had fewer minutes on the pitch precisely so he could adapt to the pace of European football and regain his fitness, as well as having to compete with more experienced players already established in the squad: “[Vitor Roque] is a player still developing. There are players ahead of him, which is why he plays less – that’s how I see it. I’ve spent my whole life working with young players.” (GE)
Thus, although the cases of Raphinha and Roque are used by some to suggest a supposed lack of care for Brazilian talent, Xavi has always maintained the same argument: they were tactical decisions, made with the players’ development and the team’s performance in mind. He has never questioned the talent of these two Brazilian stars nor tried to dim their shine – largely because he believes in the importance of preserving Brazil’s unique and almost magical relationship with ‘jogo bonito’: “Brazil is football.” (Romário TV)
Philosophy: talent above all
Xavi’s vision for developing Brazilian talent involves honing that passion, but without losing sight of the tactical side and a deeper understanding of the game. And whilst he sees Brazil as one of the major hubs of talent in world football, he also recognises the opportunity to build highly efficient teams – provided that talent is combined with a more organised and analytical approach to the game: “Talent always beats physicality. The day that stops happening, we’ll have ruined everything, because football will become very boring. And as I truly believe that talent always ends up prevailing, the important thing is to explore that: to make the player think about the ‘why’. Why are you positioning yourself here? Why do you arrive at the right moment? Why is your teammate holding off the defenders so you can receive the pass unmarked?” (UOL)
It is this approach, combined with his achievements as a player and manager, that made Xavi emerge as an interesting candidate to take charge of the Brazilian national team at a certain point. Before the 2022 World Cup, he was even invited to be Tite’s assistant, but turned it down. After the World Cup, he also received a stronger offer to take over as Brazil’s manager, but preferred to stay at Barcelona and continue the project there.
“I have no doubt that Brazil will once again be a benchmark in world football.” – Xavi
But Xavi has never completely ruled out the idea of taking on that role in the future: “It would be a spectacular opportunity. [...] You never know what the future holds. I’m working hard and you can’t rule anything out.” (ESPN)
After Brazil’s famous collapse at the 2014 World Cup on home soil, when many people were deeply disillusioned with the national team’s direction, Xavi still insisted he saw potential and hope in Brazilian football, believing the country would once again become one of the sport’s major powers: “I have no doubt that Brazil will once again be a benchmark in world football.” (O Globo)
The obstacle known as Ancelotti
Even so, he would probably still have to wait quite a while if he really wanted to take charge of the ‘Amarelinha’. Last year, Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti took over the Brazilian national team and appears set to renew his contract until 2030.
The experienced manager, winner of five Champions Leagues and voted Manager of the Year at the 2025 Ballon d’Or, often speaks of his admiration for Brazil. With the aim of leading the national team to its first World Cup title in over two decades, Ancelotti often highlights the pride he takes in managing the ‘Country of Football’: ‘It is an honour and a source of pride to manage the best national team in the world. [...] I have always had a special connection with this country.’ (Terra)
It is clear, then, that Xavi knows the idea of coaching Brazil would have to be put on hold whilst “Don Carlo” is in charge – and that could be for quite some time. He also acknowledges how the Brazilian national team, with a talented squad led by such an experienced and successful manager, could well be on course to exceed expectations and challenge for the title: “I’ve played against Ancelotti’s Madrid, and they always compete very well wherever he goes. The players also speak very highly of him as a manager. Brazil are already favourites simply because they are Brazil, but even more so with Ancelotti.” (Romário TV)
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Ancelotti, for his part, has also praised Xavi Hernández’s style and working methods in Spain. In 2024, he stated: “I think Xavi did a great job at Barcelona and knows the club very well.” (ESPN)
In other words, the respect is mutual.
A dream that could still come true
For now, Xavi’s comments about coaching Brazil are just that – an idea, a possibility, something hypothetical.
Even so, it reflects the desire, interest and fascination that many coaches around the world have, regardless of their styles or experience, for the chance to lead the Brazilian national team – five-time world champions, responsible for names such as Pelé, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, and who continue to strive to return to the top with talent, dedication and a unique relationship with the game.
