LILLE, France – The road to the 2026 World Cup hit another speed bump for the Seleção on Tuesday night.
Despite a standout performance from teenage sensation Estêvão, Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil were held to a gritty 1-1 draw by a spirited Tunisia side at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
In a contest that was supposed to be a routine tune-up for the five-time world champions, Brazil found themselves frustrated by a disciplined Tunisian defense and their own profligacy—highlighted by a late penalty miss from Lucas Paquetá that denied them victory.
The match began with Brazil dominating possession but lacking the incisive edge to break down Tunisia’s low block. The Carthage Eagles, seemingly content to absorb pressure, waited for their moment and struck with lethal efficiency in the 23rd minute.
Exposing Brazil’s defensive frailty on the left flank, full-back Ali Abdi surged forward and delivered a pinpoint ball to Hazem Mastouri. The striker showed composure beyond his years, slipping the ball past goalkeeper Bento to send the travelling Tunisian fans into raptures. It was a classic counter-attacking punch that left Ancelotti visibly agitated on the touchline.
With Vinícius Júnior struggling to find space and the midfield looking disjointed, it fell to the youngest player on the pitch to provide the spark. 18-year-old Estêvão, continuing his meteoric rise, was the one constant threat for the South Americans.
Brazil’s lifeline came just before the break. A scramble in the box saw the ball strike Dylan Bronn’s arm, and after a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot. Estêvão stepped up, displaying nerves of steel, and fired home to level the scores at 1-1 in the 44th minute, sparing the Seleção the embarrassment of trailing at halftime.
The second half saw Brazil camp in the Tunisian half, with Ancelotti introducing fresh legs in an attempt to force a winner. The pressure appeared to pay off in the 78th minute when Vitor Roque was brought down in the box, gifting Brazil a golden opportunity to take the lead.
With Estêvão having been substituted, the responsibility fell to Lucas Paquetá. However, the West Ham midfielder fluffed his lines, blazing his effort over the crossbar—a miss that served as a microcosm of Brazil's frustrating night.
Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen was heroic in the closing stages, denying late efforts from Rodrygo and Raphinha, ensuring his side left Lille with a morale-boosting result against one of the world’s footballing giants.
For Tunisia, this result is a testament to their tactical discipline and resilience. For Brazil and Ancelotti, however, it raises more questions than answers. While the emergence of Estêvão remains a massive positive, the lack of clinical finishing and defensive lapses suggest that the Seleção is still a work in progress as 2026 looms.
"We created enough to win three games today, but football is about putting the ball in the net," a frustrated Ancelotti noted post-match. "We must be more clinical."
Brazil will now look to regroup during the next international window, knowing that performances like tonight's will not be enough to secure a sixth star.
* Score: Brazil 1 - 1 Tunisia
* Possession: Brazil 67% - 33% Tunisia
* Shots (on target): Brazil 21 (3) - Tunisia 6 (2)
* Player of the Match: Ali Abdi (Tunisia)
While the Tunisian camp buzzed with the energy of a moral victory, the Brazilian contingent wore the heavy expressions of a team knowing they let a win slip through their fingers.
The Brazil boss did not hide his frustration. Usually calm, Ancelotti appeared visibly annoyed by his team's inability to convert dominance into goals.
* On the result vs. performance:
"If you look at the statistics, we played a game to win 3-0 or 4-1. We created enough to win three games today. But football isn't about 'creating,' it is about putting the ball in the net. Today, we sinned in our finishing. We were not clinical, and at this level, you get punished for that."
* On Lucas Paquetá’s penalty miss:
"Penalties are moments of high tension. Lucas has the quality, he has the technique. He missed today, it happens to the best. We don't blame him for the result; we blame the five or six clear chances we missed from open play before that."
* On Estêvão’s performance:
"He is the light in a gray performance. It is not normal for an 18-year-old to carry this kind of responsibility with such lightness. He was the only one who truly understood the spaces today. He is a massive positive for us heading into the World Cup cycle."
Tunisia’s head coach Sami Trabelsi was beaming, praising his side's tactical rigor against five-time world champions.
* On the tactical plan:
"We knew we could not trade punches with Brazil. If you open up, they kill you. Our plan was to suffer together, close the lines, and wait for that one mistake. When Abdi found Mastouri, it was exactly what we practiced. I am incredibly proud of the tactical discipline my players showed."
* On goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen:
"Aymen was a giant today. To get a result against Brazil, your goalkeeper must be your best player, and he was. That save against Raphinha in the 90th minute? That is worth as much as a goal."
Estêvão: "Bittersweet Night"
The Player stopped briefly in the mixed zone, clutching his award but looking far from satisfied.
* On his goal and the result:
"I’m happy to score again for the Seleção, it’s always a dream. But I leave here upset. We are Brazil; we cannot draw a game like this where we have so much of the ball. The goal doesn't matter much if we don't win."
* On the team's morale:
"We need to keep our heads up. The World Cup is coming, and these games are lessons. We have to be colder in front of goal, myself included."
Lucas Paquetá: A Brief Apology
The West Ham midfielder was one of the last to leave the locker room and offered a brief comment to Brazilian media as he walked to the team bus.
"I take responsibility. I trained that shot all week, but I hit it too hard. I apologize to the fans and my teammates. I will work to make sure the next one goes in."