Maicon – Brazil´s new Roberto Carlos?

Despite being lambasted by fans and media alike for a poor showing in their 2-1 World Cup win against North Korea, Brazil may just have found themselves a new Roberto Carlos.

The former Real Madrid star was a feature of the Brazil side which lifted their fifth World Cup title in Japan in 2002, marauding up and down the left flank as a full back who loved nothing better than to attack.

With Kaka looking forlorn in midfield and Luis Fabiano not doing a very convincing job of impersonating predecessor Ronaldo at number 9, the Brazilians will take what they can get in terms of goalscorers.

Which is why right back Maicon could be on the way to enjoying the cult status Roberto Carlos once basked in.

When Ronaldo was at Inter Milan, a succession of serious knee problems meant he most notably managed only a UEFA Cup triumph before moving to Real Madrid, where a La Liga title came swiftly before the goals and the silverware dried up.

With Jose Mourinho at the helm at the San Siro, Maicon helped Inter to an historic treble of a first Champions League title in more than four decades as well as the Serie A title and the Italian Cup for good measure.

As he now also prepares to make the same career move as his illustrious compatriot did almost a decade ago to the Bernabeu – where he would once again come under the wing of Mourinho – Maicon will reflect that Roberto Carlos himself swapped black and blue for all white in 1996, to great effect.

Maicon says he feels his career is really soaring to new heights and believes a World Cup win would be the icing on the cake.

“That really would be something special. I am really in a purple patch and just don’t want it to end,” he said ahead of the North Korea match, where he went off on a solo run before bending the ball in from an acute angle to break the deadlock.

The run was more than a little reminiscent of the trademark sprints from deep which Roberto Carlos used to drive Brazil and Real forward.

The 28-year-old Maicon, from the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, missed out in 2006, when Cicinho beat him to a place in the World Cup squad even though Maicon had been in sides which won both the 2004 Copa America 2004 and the 2005 Confederations Cup.

Starting off with Gremio he then came to Europe in 2004, spending two seasons with Monaco before Inter snapped him up.

His goal against North Korea proved crucial, giving the Brazilains some breathing space to open up their previously cautious game and find a second through Elano before Ji Yun-Nam netted a consolation.

Afterwards, Dunga singled out Maicon for praise.

“We played satisfactorily – but I must single out Maicon both for his goal and his general play,” said Brazil’s much-maligned coach.

Maicon himself appears to be a pragmatist of the Mourinho school when it comes to how the team should play.

“We can play the pretty stuff or play ugly but the thing is to get to the final on July 11 and we want to win the trophy,” he said.