Casemiro had just left the stage with his Player of the Match award. The Brazil midfielder had scored the stunning winner in their 1-0 win over Switzerland in their second group-stage match, but he dodged any personal praise, instead spreading the acclaim throughout the team.
It’s part of Brazil‘s squad dynamic here in Qatar: the strength of the team outweighs any individual performance. But coach Tite allowed himself one brief moment to go off-message when asked if Neymar — who had watched the performance from his hotel bed when recovering from illness and an ankle injury — was right when he tweeted that Casemiro was “the best defensive midfielder in the world.”
“I normally don’t comment other people’s opinion, but this one time I will allow myself: I agree with Neymar,” Tite said. “He’s the best.”
Talk to the Brazil fans here in Qatar and if you ask them who their best player is, they’ll likely say Neymar or Vinicius Junior. But ask them who their most important player is, and the answer comes back unanimously as Casemiro. In this age of young midfielders — where the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Jude Bellingham, Gavi and Pedri have all received worldwide plaudits — it’s the 30-year-old veteran who is setting the benchmark for players in his position. World-class players in his own team are in awe of him; legends who helped Brazil earn each of the five stars on their jersey are similarly impressed.
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“Leadership, technique, defensively – everything about him, is impressive,” ex-Brazil midfielder Zinho, who was part of the 1994 squad, tells ESPN. “He’s a reference for all our players in this position.”
If Brazil end up earning that sixth star in the World Cup final on Dec. 18, then Casemiro will be a huge reason behind their success.
