Rodrygo's eyes gleam as he talks about the World Cup - an experience so breathtaking it still gets his heart racing. But beneath the surface of that unforgettable privilege lies a brutal reality: it demands everything from you, every single day. The Brazilian forward should know; he played for Brazil at the 2022 tournament and has seen firsthand what's required to perform on football's biggest stage.
Every World Cup day is meticulously crafted, like a finely tuned machine. Breakfast is no casual affair - a communal spread where every option has been carefully chosen by a nutritionist to meet each player's unique needs. Then it's onto the pitch for intense training sessions, often within the team's own accommodation complex, followed by personalised lunches tailored to their body composition. Afternoons are filled with gym work, recovery massages, and strategic meetings with coaching staff - including video analysis of upcoming opponents that leaves no stone unturned.
But it doesn't stop there. The players' schedules are packed with extra commitments like press conferences, exclusive interviews, and content recording for FIFA. Matchdays add travel to stadiums, the game itself, post-match interviews in the mixed zone, and returns to the team base - sometimes involving flights for games in different cities. Rodrygo admits it can be a struggle to truly immerse yourself in the 'World Cup atmosphere' despite its enormity, as this intense, minute-by-minute scheduling can go on for dozens of days.
Rodrygo knows that while the experience is undeniably a privilege, it's not one that sustains itself without immense effort. He talks about the constant internal battle required to maintain performance - establishing oneself at the necessary level demands a daily victory over the urge for extended rest and relaxation. Mental fortitude becomes crucial in pulling yourself back when the body leans towards complacency, or vice versa.
Now, currently recovering from a right knee injury in the United States, Rodrygo is seeing the World Cup from a different perspective. He's observed how global football events are increasing in frequency here - including the 2024 Copa América and 2025 Club World Cup, with the 2028 Olympic Games also scheduled for US shores. But he notes that this heightened visibility doesn't necessarily translate into football occupying a larger space within American culture; engagement is often confined to specific 'bubbles of excitement' around major tournaments.