Players are human beings and social media comments reach us. But the focus has to be on the pitch

Vinícius Júnior got Brazil back into the game in their first group match against Morocco with a brilliantly taken goal. It finished 1-1. Photograph: Rob Newell/CameraSport/Getty Images

Playing in a World Cup is a huge experience; when you’re with the national team, your entire focus is on the squad’s schedule – the hotel, the training centre, the stadium – basically, everything revolves around the matches.

I lived that routine daily at the 2022 World Cup and realised the immense dedication the tournament demands. In this 2026 edition, as fate would have it and as I am still recovering from my injury, I’m discovering a different side of the World Cup: a World Cup of reunions, with countless events happening simultaneously across the cities and countries, creating opportunities for conversations and extraordinary experiences.