Deco places the Portuguese team among the favorites to win the 2026 World Cup. The former Portuguese international and current sporting director at Barcelona praised the quality of the squad available to Roberto Martínez in an interview with TNT Sports Brasil: «With the team they have, it is impossible for Portugal not to be among the favorites. I believe Spain will too because of the team they have. Brazil wouldn't be among the top-3 favorites based on recent history, but if the team suddenly fits... they have players with a very high level. We cannot forget Argentina and France.” The current Blaugrana leader welcomed the possibility of the Canarian team counting on Neymar at the World Cup, but admitted the weight of the physical factor: «Neymar's quality is undeniable, with him Brazil has a better chance. I hope he recovers and can help because he is a different player. An attack with Neymar, Vini and Raphinha was good.” Deco also revealed that the Barcelona I never had a real chance of ensuring the return of Neymar to the club upon the Brazilian international's departure from Al Hilal at the beginning of 2025. The culés' sporting director ruled out such a possibility due to financial fairplay. Raphinha's unusual career Barcelona, nevertheless, has a 29-year-old winger in its ranks. Deco praised and highlighted Raphinha's evolution since his first steps in European football, in Portugal. The former Portuguese midfielder considered that the Brazilian winger “never had time”. «He was at Vitória, he was sold quickly. Vitória is an average team, very good to grow in Portugal, one of the great teams in history. When he was becoming an important player at Sporting, Sporting had to sell. The normal thing would be to stay another year or two at Sporting and then be sold directly to a big club», highlighted Deco. Raphinha was at Sporting during the 2018/19 season Instead of jumping to the European elite, Raphinha was sold to Rennes in 2019, before jumping to Leeds the following year. Barcelona signed the winger in the summer of 2022, but Deco reiterated his unusual career path, also due to the management of the Lions: «At that time Sporting preferred to sell him and Wendel to keep Bruno [Fernandes]. He was a player who was destined to play for the big clubs in Europe.”