Frank Christian
As Brazil entered the 2024 Copa America as one of the top contenders, recent struggles raised doubts, especially after a rocky start to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Despite this, positive results against England and Spain improved confidence in head coach Dorival Junior’s ability to secure a 10th Copa America title.
The team’s leadership is crucial, with questions arising about the captaincy at the finals and why Neymar lost the role. Recent captaincy changes have marked a turbulent period since the 2022 World Cup.
Current Brazil Captain at Copa America 2024
Danilo has been named captain for Brazil at the Copa America. The Juventus defender, with 58 caps, led the team in the final warm-up game against the United States and the opening match against Costa Rica.
Recent captains include Casemiro and Marquinhos, who stepped in due to injuries. Danilo was given the armband by Dorival Junior for recent friendlies against England and Spain.
Reasons Behind Neymar’s Removal as Captain
Neymar lost the captaincy in 2019 under coach Tite due to disciplinary issues at Paris Saint-Germain. After leading the team only four times, he was stripped of the role following a domestic ban for misconduct after a match.
In the 2019 Copa America, Dani Alves took over the armband. While Neymar would have been a suitable captain for the 2024 tournament, a knee injury in 2023 sidelined him from the competition.
