Who still looks down on Richarlison?

The opening round of the 2025/26 Premier League on August 16 witnessed a sublime Richarlison in a Tottenham shirt.

The opening round of the 2025/26 Premier League on August 16 witnessed a sublime Richarlison in a Tottenham shirt. In front of the home crowd, the Brazilian striker scored a double to help Spurs start the season with a sweet 3-0 victory over Burnley.

But what got the fans talking more than the goal was the way Richarlison chose to celebrate: he posted on social media a photo of himself superimposed onto Ronaldo “Fenomeno” in the yellow-green shirt of 2002, with the cryptic caption: “So the World Cup is less than a year away, right?”.

From tattoo to living symbol

Behind the move was more than just the momentary excitement of scoring two goals. It reflected Richarlison’s ambition, as well as his belief that he deserves to continue being Brazil’s number one striker under Carlo Ancelotti.

With Neymar and Vinicius Jr both established icons, the “number 9” position is still vacant. And Richarlison is trying to fill that void himself.

Richarlison’s love for Ronaldo “The Alien” is not new. On his thigh he has a tattoo of himself standing next to Ronaldo and Neymar - the two stars he considers the biggest inspirations of his career.

For Richarlison, Ronaldo is not only an idol, but also a standard for all Brazilian strikers. It is the instinct to score goals, the coolness in big games and the ability to explode that makes the whole world take their hats off.

And in his volley against Burnley, fans had reason to associate it with Richarlison’s diving finish against Serbia at the 2022 World Cup – a goal so beautiful it became iconic. Two strikes, two moments that brought back memories that the 28-year-old striker could, if only fleetingly, touch Ronaldo’s level.

Without Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Tottenham Hotspurs still have Richarlison.

The problem is, in the Brazilian national team, the competition has never been less fierce. Coach Carlo Ancelotti spent his first two games in charge of the Selecao: Richarlison started his debut and only came on as a substitute in the second. Clearly, his position is no longer the “default” it was under Tite. When Ancelotti is in charge, every position is put through the test of tactics and performance.

The next squad will be announced on August 25. Brazil will have two World Cup qualifiers against Chile at the Maracana and Bolivia away.

For a pragmatic coach like Ancelotti, stability is the top criteria. That is also the reason why Richarlison needs impressive performances at club level to send a convincing message: he is not just a “lucky” striker in major tournaments, but a reliable choice for the long term.

Aspiration to continue tradition number 9

Brazil has always been proud of its famous “number 9s”: from Romario, Ronaldo, Adriano, to later generations like Fred or Gabriel Jesus. But since Ronaldo’s heyday, no one has truly recreated the image of an all-round striker.

Richarlison does not possess superb technique, nor does he have the explosive speed of Vinicius. His strengths lie in his fighting spirit, tenacity and ability to seize opportunities.

For the Spurs striker, last night in London was a rebirth. Having been plagued by injuries, scoring just four Premier League goals last season and having his £60m value questioned, the Brazilian responded with a scintillating performance.

His opening goal showed his scoring instincts, his superb overhead kick showed his daring, and his participation in the 3-0 finale showed his integration into the team. When he left the pitch in the 71st minute, he received a long standing ovation - something Spurs strikers do not always get.

It is worth mentioning that coach Thomas Frank (Tottenham Spurs) does not simply look at the goal. He emphasizes the comprehensiveness: the ability to keep the ball, connect the play, press and the leadership spirit that Richarlison brings.

Former England striker Alan Shearer called the second goal “a very difficult feat”, while Dion Dublin said the player just needed “an ego stroke” to get the most out of it. Perhaps Frank – who is famous for his talent in personnel management – will know how to turn Richarlison into a consistent striker rather than just a flash of brilliance.

For Richarlison, the social media post with the image of Ronaldo in 2002 was therefore more than just a joke. It was a message: he wanted to be seen as the successor to the No. 9 position in his World Cup dream. In less than a year, the biggest tournament on the planet will begin, and every match, every goal between now and then will decide who will be given the responsibility of leading the Selecão attack.

Richarlison has made his presence felt in the way he knows best: with goals and audacity. And if he continues to maintain this form, it may be difficult for Ancelotti to ignore a striker who is desperate to prove he is worthy of wearing Brazil’s legendary No. 9 shirt.

Source: https://znews.vn/con-ai-coi-thuong-richarlison-post1577678.html