The former Arsenal midfielder was part of the Selecao squad that triumphed in 2002, in Japan and South Korea, and it is a tournament that Fred remembers watching in his youth.
It is the last time the South Americans got their hands on the prize but they are favourites to go all the way in Qatar and started with a convincing 2-0 victory over Serbia on Thursday night.
“I remember 2002," Fred told club media recently. "I remember something of ’98 but just a little flash, I don’t remember a lot. But, in 2002, I remember I watched every game in Japan.