Jorge Jesus has revealed he was approached by Brazil prior to Carlo Ancelotti's appointment as the Selecao's head coach last year.

Jesus accepted the Portugal job earlier this month, with Roberto Martinez departing following their defeat to eventual World Cup winners Spain in the round of 16.

Brazil fell at the same hurdle against an Erling Haaland-inspired Norway team, despite appointing five-time Champions League-winning boss Ancelotti last May.

Ancelotti struggled to lift Brazil's level at the tournament, as they played out an underwhelming group-stage draw with Morocco and required a late turnaround to beat Japan in the round of 32.

After the Norway game, Ancelotti was criticised for bringing on Neymar while the game was goalless, with Brazil slumping to a humiliating exit despite the 34-year-old scoring a late consolation from the penalty spot.

Brazil's wait for a record-extending sixth World Cup triumph will now stretch to at least 28 years, having failed to lift the trophy at six straight editions – it is now the longest drought in the team's history.

This year's competition was the first to see Brazil fall as early as the round of 16, meanwhile, since they lost to rivals Argentina in 1990.

Ancelotti has committed to staying for the 2030 tournament, but the job may never have been his had Jesus decided to take on the challenge.

Jesus told Canal 11: "I ended up not taking charge of the Brazilian national team, but I'd already been approached to draw up the preliminary squad for the match after they lost 4-1 to Argentina [in March 2025].

"Brazilian players are born to play; even in the Brazilian league there's a lot of quality. Would I have picked a different squad to Ancelotti's? At least one or two players, yes."

Jesus felt Flamengo forward Pedro – who scored 12 goals in Brazil's Serie A last year and already has 10 to his name in 2026 – was worthy of inclusion in Ancelotti's squad, but he admits many of his choices would have mirrored the Italian's. 

"I think that, at the moment, the best centre-forward in Brazilian football is Pedro. Perhaps I'm a bit biased because he was one of my players at Flamengo," Jesus said. 

"I think, for the most part, I'd agree with what he did. But then there's the personal touch, the way of looking at the game, the way of coaching. 

"Those are the differences, the way each manager views the game and puts their ideas into practice."

Jesus will now attempt to lead Portugal to a second European Championship crown in 2028, ahead of a home World Cup in 2030 – it is not yet clear what role, if any, Cristiano Ronaldo will play in those campaigns.

And Jesus feels there are many similarities between his new team and his home country, adding: "I'd say Portugal is the Brazil of Europe, with lots of individual quality, but then when the World Cup comes around... Brazil haven't been champions for 22 years.

"They [Brazil] say, 'We're the country with the most titles'. That's true. 

"But that's the past; they haven't won for 22 years. They always have great players, but then they can't put together a great national team."

Jesus has spent most of his managerial career in Portugal, with his only job in his homeland seeing him lead Flamengo to the Copa Libertadores in 2019.

His first game in charge of Portugal will be a Nations League clash with Wales in September, with Norway and Denmark also drawn into their group in that competition.