Zico fires back at Raphinha over Club World Cup row | OneFootball

According to Lance, Flamengo legend Zico has publicly defended the Club World Cup, taking aim at recent criticism from Barcelona and Brazil international Raphinha regarding the tournament's timing in the football calendar. Raphinha, speaking from Brazil during his off-season break — with Barcelona missing out on this year’s Club World Cup — argued that the competition disrupts players' much-needed rest period. He expressed sympathy for European-based teammates, such as Marquinhos and Beraldo of Paris Saint-Germain, whose seasons extended from a Champions League final directly into international duty and then onto potential Club World Cup involvement without a proper break.

Zico, a revered figure in Flamengo and Brazilian football history, rejected Raphinha’s comments in a recent interview with “Placar”. He pointed out that the dates for the Club World Cup have long been established, countering any notion that players were blindsided by the schedule. “No one learned yesterday that this competition was going to happen. It was scheduled a long time ago,” Zico stated. He also suggested Raphinha may have been fortunate that the only World Cup he played in took place during the European season, referencing the unique winter window for Qatar 2022. “If he had played in a regular World Cup, during the summer break, he probably wouldn’t make these complaints,” said the Flamengo idol.

Continuing, Zico drew attention to the upcoming 2026 World Cup in the United States, which, like previous editions, is set for the traditional European summer break — precisely the period under scrutiny. “We always played the World Cup at the end of the season, from June to July, just as it will be next year in the United States. Let’s see if, next year, he says the same thing,” Zico noted. He added that while every player is entitled to their perspective, consistency is important: “You can’t say one thing today and something different in a year’s time.”

The debate sheds light on a longstanding tension between European football schedules and global tournaments. While Raphinha speaks to the strain on players crossing club and international commitments, Zico’s response underscores the prestige and preparation that the Club World Cup demands — and the expectation that its significance should not be diminished by concerns over rest periods. For Flamengo, and for South American clubs eyeing global honours, figures like Zico continue to champion the value of the tournament amid ongoing scheduling debates.

Source: Lance

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