Brazil live player ratings vs. Morocco: Grades, top performers in 2026 World Cup Group C match

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — The most successful nation in the history of the FIFA World Cup will begin its 2026 tournament as Brazil takes on a tough Group C challenge with a clash against Morocco from MetLife Stadium on Saturday.

Brazil hold five World Cup titles in their nation's illustrious football history, but have not won since 2002, their longest drought since winning their first crown in 1958.

Today's match will go a long way in testing whether they are up for a title fight this year, as they meet the seventh-ranked nation in the world and the top African country. Morocco are coming off winning the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil earlier this year, although they did so despite losing the final to Senegal in extra-time, being awarded the trophy after the fact due to Senegal's protest of a penalty decision earlier in the match.

The Sporting News brings you a full list of player ratings for the match, analyzing the USMNT's individual performances from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.

MORE: Follow LIVE with highlights, commentary, and updates as Brazil takes on Morocco

Brazil vs. Morocco score

Location: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)
Referee: Slavko Vincic (SLV)

Brazil starting lineup:

4-4-2, right to left: 1. Alisson (GK) — 24. Ibanez, 4. Marquinhos, 3. Gabriel, 16. Santos — 11. Raphinha, 8. Guimaraes, 5. Casemiro, 20. Paqueta — 25. Thiago, 7. Vinicius.

Brazil bench: Ederson (GK), Weverton (GK), Alex Sandro, Danilo, Bremer, Leo Pereira, Danilo, Ederson, Fabinho, Endrick, Martinelli, Luiz Henrique, Cunha, Rayan.

MORE: USMNT player ratings for the historic 4-1 victory over Paraguay

Brazil player ratings vs. Morocco

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has submitted a lineup without Matheus Cunha, a surprise as he sticks Igor Thiago up top alongside Vinicius Jr.. There were no other surprises for the Selecao, as their midfield trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro, and Lucas Paqueta is one of the best in the world.

They set up in a 4-4-2, with Raphinha on the left and Paqueta on the right supporting the two strikers.

All ratings are on a 10-point scale

Starters

GK — Alisson: 6

Even as Morocco had six shots to Brazil's one in the opening 15 minutes, Alisson didn't have much to do as his back four did well to shield the goal and prevent any shots from reaching the net. Got left on an island for Morocco's opening goal, nothing he could do to prevent it.

This section will be updated with analysis and commentary as the game progresses.

RB — Roger Ibanez: 6

Got cooked on the edge of the penalty area in the sixth minute that led to a big Morocco chance. Shored it up in possession for the most part after that, but still struggled to keep a lid on his side of the field which Morocco attacked repeatedly when they weren't going straight down the middle.

Picked up a yellow card in the first half for a foul in transition that stopped a counter-attack.

This section will be updated with analysis and commentary as the game progresses.

CB — Gabriel: 6

Had a pair of key blocks early on, but made a key error on the opening goal for Morocco. Should have pressured the goal scorer on Morocco's opener, but tried to challenge vertically with pace and got beat.

This section will be updated with analysis and commentary as the game progresses.

CB — Marquinhos: 5

Looked very shaky early on. Fails to pinch with Gabriel on the opening goal for Morocco, expecting Saibari to continue dribbling and was wrong.

This section will be updated with analysis and commentary as the game progresses.

LB — Douglas Santos: 5

Was safe in possession for Brazil, but hardly did any defending in his own third, as he spent most of his time pushed up near the midway line. This was a problem as he often got in the way of those meant to be attacking on the left side.

This section will be updated with analysis and commentary as the game progresses.

RM — Lucas Paqueta: 3

Was active early on, but struggled to find a position and wasn't a positive addition with his scatterbrained role. Gave the ball away on Morocco's opening goal. Had another potentially dangerous giveaway on the half-hour mark right at the top of his penalty area.

As he was truly awful through the first 30 minutes of the match, Carlo Ancelotti decided to switch Paqueta to the left flank and move Raphinha to the right. It helped some, but not much.

This section will be updated with analysis and commentary as the game progresses.

CM — Casemiro: 5

Consistently got himself involved in the defensive action, winning the ball back and drawing fouls ad nauseum. However, his high risk, high reward style gave Morocco a number of chances, and he his lack of pace was a problem when Morocco got out on the counter.

This section will be updated with analysis and commentary as the game progresses.

CM — Bruno Guimaraes: 6

Was the strongest performer in midfield for Brazil in the first half, but that's not saying much as Casemiro and Lucas Paqueta struggled mightily. His passing was largely safe, but his defending was questionable at times. Delivered the assist to Vinicius Jr, but it was of little aplomb. Wasted a free-kick chance just before halftime as he sent it way too short.

This section will be updated with analysis and commentary as the game progresses.

MORE: How three 1994 USMNT legends hope the USMNT gets its grit back

LM — Raphinha: 7

Was incredibly active early on, both carrying the ball forward and also doing good defensive work. Delivered a great cross after dribbling forward in the 14th minute, but Igor Thiago came up empty with his open header.

This section will be updated with analysis and commentary as the game progresses.

FW — Vinicius Jr: 8

Was a passenger through the first 20 minutes as Raphinha cooked on the left leaving Vini with very little to offer. This was the risk of the 4-4-2, that the two of them would be unable to both provide simultaneous danger while occupying similar space.

It didn't matter though, as his talent shone through in a massive way once he got his first opportunity, and he skewered El Aynaoui before delivering a blistering strike for the first-half equalizer. Nearly put Brazil ahead with what would have been a stunning overhead kick, 

This section will be updated with analysis and commentary as the game progresses.

FW — Igor Thiago: 4

Looked a bit in over his head early. Stalled an eighth-minute attack when the counter was on by failing to make a decision and sitting on the ball confused as what to do. Whiffed with a big header in the 14th minute with an open look on goal.

After those early errors, Thiago was a completely and utterly invisible, doing nothing of note and completely failing to 

This section will be updated with analysis and commentary as the game progresses.

Brazil substitutes vs. Morocco

This section will be updated as substitutes enter the match off the bench and begin to influence the game.

Brazil coach vs. Morocco

Carlo Ancelotti: Grade pending

This section will be updated after the match with analysis and commentary about the team's tactical setup and their preparedness for the game.