PSL not good enough? Ex-Spanish La Liga manager explains what Bafana Bafana hopeful & Mamelodi Sundowns star Lucas Ribeiro needs to do to play for Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior's Brazil - 'He has the potential'

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has said that Lucas Ribeiro might need to move from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) in order to boost his chances of ever playing for Brazil.

Since he arrived from Belgium, the Brazilian forward has been a dazzling star for Masandawana; however, Cardoso said he might not play for Selecao if he remains in the PSL.

"You want me to give you the politically correct answer or the true one? If I were to give you a politically correct answer, I would say it’s a pity he doesn’t go to the national team. He’s probably been the best player in the league; he’s highly skillful; that’s true," Cardoso told reporters.

“I think for Lucas to go to the Brazil national team, he has to prove himself at another level because if you go check the names of the players for Brazil, you’ll see. I went to check where they play, and they play for the biggest teams in the world," the former Celta Vigo manager added.

“We can think that we’re one of the biggest teams in Africa, but to be one of the biggest teams in the world is something else. I think Lucas will have to prove himself at that level to have a call-up in the national team. It’s up to him to run at that level, and he has the potential, no doubt.

“If he achieves that, I think it will be him that can speak for himself, but it’s a pleasure to work with him. I know he has the potential, but he has to prove it," he concluded.

Ribeiro signed for the Tshwane giants in July 2023 from SK Beveren, and the 26-year-old has stamped authority on the team, becoming one of the regular starters for the PSL reigning champions.

He has 33 goals and 20 assists for Masandawana for the two seasons he has been with them. This season, Ribeiro, known for his dribbling abilities and pace, has found the back of the net 13 times in 20 games.

He is also a serious contender to win the PSL's Player of the Season award.

As chances of Ribeiro playing for Brazil remain slim for now, he could change nationality and even play for Bafana Bafana in the future, but he is not eligible to do so now.

For now, he has to deal with speculations around his future at Sundowns, although his agent said he is happy in South Africa.