Arnaldo Ribeiro said Luiz Henrique was the player who most lost ground in the Brazilian national team after the friendly against Panama, as discussed on Posse de Bola, on Canal UOL. The journalist pointed to a drop in the forward’s standing and suggested that he may even lose his place in the starting lineup for Brazil’s World Cup opener.
According to Arnaldo, Luiz Henrique had been viewed differently in the national team compared with his performances at Botafogo. He argued that, before the friendly, the forward was seen as someone who usually made a strong impact when coming off the bench, rather than as a player who consistently started matches well. In his assessment, Luiz Henrique’s energy and physical condition make him an excellent option for the second half, when games become more open and decisive moments can emerge.
Arnaldo also said that Carlo Ancelotti appeared to be trying to reproduce a tactical idea already seen in Brazil’s previous setups, placing Luiz Henrique in the role previously occupied by Estêvão. That comparison, in his view, helps explain why the friendly against Panama may have had a negative effect on the player’s status within the squad. Instead of strengthening his case for a starting role, the match may have highlighted his limitations in that specific function from the beginning of games.
The commentary suggests that the Panama match changed the internal perception around Luiz Henrique at a key moment in Brazil’s preparation. What had looked like a promising opportunity to consolidate himself among the starters may have turned into a setback. Arnaldo’s analysis indicates that the coaching staff could now see him more clearly as a valuable impact substitute, rather than an automatic choice for the first eleven.
The discussion also reflects the broader challenge facing the Brazilian team as it approaches the start of the Copa. With the tournament drawing closer, every friendly and tactical test carries extra weight, and players competing for limited spots have little margin for error. In that context, a single performance can influence how a coach organizes the team and how certain players are used.
For Luiz Henrique, the message from Arnaldo’s assessment is that his role may still be important, but perhaps not in the way he had hoped. He remains a player with strong physical traits and the ability to change a match, yet the Panama friendly may have reduced his chances of beginning Brazil’s first game as a starter.
