Júlio César points out what was the best defense in his career and talks about his debut at Maracanã

The search for a key center forward for the Brazilian national team has been a challenge in recent years. Several names have been tested, such as João Pedro, Gabriel Jesus, and others , but none have managed to establish themselves as a regular starter.

In an interview with Romário, Adriano Imperador weighed in on the matter and named Flamengo striker Pedro as the best option to take over the position. " He's my number 9 on the Brazilian national team. He's a true center forward ," the former player said, recalling his own experiences as a goalscorer.

RECENT HISTORY OF CENTER FORWARDS

Pedro was called up by Tite for the 2022 World Cup, but didn't get significant opportunities, as Richarlison was chosen as the starter. Before him, Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison shared the attacking role in the last two World Cups , while Roberto Firmino also had starting opportunities at times during the cycle.

Currently, the list of attacking options includes prominent players from Europe and Brazil. Chelsea's João Pedro has been attracting attention in England. Endrick, who already plays for Real Madrid, is also among the players with a future. Cruzeiro's Kaio Jorge and Igor Jesus, formerly of Botafogo and now at Nottingham Forest, have also been named in recent call-ups.

PEDRO GAINS SPACE AGAIN AFTER INJURY

The Mengão center forward suffered a serious injury in September 2024, which delayed his bid for a starting spot. However, in recent weeks, he has returned to performing well and remains a possibility of being called up again . Adriano Imperador's public opinion fuels the debate surrounding Pedro as an option for Carlo Ancelotti in the national team.

CONMEBOL confirmed this week the uniforms that Flamengo and Estudiantes will wear in their Copa Libertadores quarterfinal matches. The first leg takes place on September 18th at the Maracanã stadium , while the return leg will be on the 25th in La Plata.

In Rio de Janeiro, Flamengo will play in its traditional uniform: a red-and-black shirt, white shorts, and red-and-black striped socks. Estudiantes will take to the field in a white shirt, black shorts, and white socks.

In Argentina, the second match will feature the Mais Querido team wearing their away kit, all-white with gold accents. Estudiantes, meanwhile, will wear their classic red-and-white striped jersey with black shorts and socks.

FLAMENGO X STUDIANTES

In the round of 16, Rubro-Negro advanced with authority by eliminating Internacional . At Maracanã, they won 1-0, with a goal from Bruno Henrique, and confirmed their place in Porto Alegre with a 2-0 victory, in which Arrascaeta and Pedro scored.

On the other side, Estudiantes had more difficulties against Cerro Porteño. The Argentine team won 1-0 in Paraguay and held on for a goalless draw in La Plata, securing their spot among the top eight in the continental competition.

ROAD TO THE SEMIFINAL

The winner of the duel between Flamengo and Estudiantes will face either Racing or Vélez in the Copa Libertadores semifinals . The matches are scheduled for the end of September and promise great anticipation among fans.

Before that, Mais Querido turns its attention to the Brazilian Championship. Next Sunday (14), the team faces Juventude, in the 23rd round, in Caxias do Sul, at 4 pm (Brasília time) . The delegation's trip is scheduled for Saturday.

Despite his short time at Flamengo, Jorginho is back on the Italian national team's radar. According to the "ge" website, Gennaro Gattuso's coaching staff considered calling up the midfielder for the matches against Estonia and Israel.

The opportunity, however, was postponed due to muscle fatigue that ruled the player out of the initial list . Still, the athlete is still being evaluated and could appear in the October squad, during the next FIFA International Day.

STEERING WHEEL RECOVERED FROM PAIN

Jorginho missed Flamengo's match against Grêmio due to pain in his left thigh, but tests revealed no injury. The defensive midfielder is already participating regularly in group activities and should be available for the team's upcoming matches . Since his arrival in July, the midfielder has become a key player in Filipe Luís 's formation, bringing experience and quality in passing the ball.

TRAJECTORY IN THE AZZURRA

Naturalized Italian, Jorginho has been called up since 2016. His peak came during the 2020 Euro Cup triumph, when he was one of the campaign's standout performers. His last appearance for the national team was in June 2024, in the Euros.

With the change of command and the arrival of Gattuso, the 33-year-old midfielder keeps alive the hope of playing in the 2026 World Cup , taking advantage of the good phase experienced by Brazilian football.