Carlo Ancelotti has shared some bold predictions and fascinating insights in a recent interview, touching on José Mourinho's potential return to Real Madrid and the rare phenomenon of a player winning the World Cup "alone."

The veteran Italian coach, who has just extended his contract with the Brazil national team through 2030, expressed strong confidence in Mourinho's abilities. "To be back at Real Madrid, I will be really happy for him," Ancelotti told The Athletic. "He can do a fantastic job, as he always did in all the clubs that he was at."

With Real Madrid reportedly considering a managerial change this summer, Ancelotti's endorsement adds weight to the speculation. Mourinho, a former Real Madrid boss himself, has been linked with a return to the Santiago Bernabéu, and Ancelotti clearly believes the Portuguese tactician still has plenty to offer at the highest level.

But perhaps the most intriguing comment from Ancelotti came when he discussed the greatest individual performances in World Cup history. The five-time Champions League winner named Napoli legend Diego Armando Maradona as the "last player" who "won the World Cup alone."

This remark highlights Maradona's iconic 1986 campaign with Argentina, where his sheer brilliance carried the team to glory. Ancelotti's statement suggests that in modern football, where tactics and team cohesion reign supreme, no single player can replicate such a feat.

Ancelotti also reflected on Brazil's World Cup-winning strategies of 1994 and 2002, offering a tactical masterclass in how the Seleção balanced defensive solidity with attacking flair. "In '94, Brazil played with two lines of four, with four strong defenders and four strong defensive midfielders," he recalled. "No wingers. Four midfielders, plus big talent up front in Romario and Bebeto."

He continued: "In 2002, nobody forgets Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, and Rivaldo. But I don't forget that, for the first time in the World Cup, Brazil played with three centre-backs."

Ancelotti's firsthand knowledge of these tournaments—he was Arrigo Sacchi's assistant when Italy faced Brazil in the 1994 final—adds a layer of authenticity to his analysis. As he prepares to lead Brazil into the 2026 World Cup, fans can expect a coach who values both tactical discipline and individual brilliance.