Richarlison says he is savouring the sky-high expectation levels that come with representing Brazil at a home Copa America, stressing “we know the weight the shirt carries and want to be champions”.

Brazil kick off the tournament on 14 June, with Tite’s team taking on Bolivia in Sao Paulo.

The Selecao have two warm-up games before the competition gets under way. They face Qatar in Brasilia on Thursday, before a meeting with Honduras in Porto Alegre three days later.

Everton forward Richarlison will be hoping to add to his eight Brazil caps in these contests.

The 22-year-old made his senior international debut in September and has remained a fixture in boss Tite’s squads since. The former Fluminense player boasts an impressive record of three goals in five starts for Brazil.

Having rapidly acclimatised to the demands of performing for the five-time world champions, Richarlison says he is determined play a key role in delivering a ninth Copa America title for his country’s fanatical football supporters.

“Any tournament Brazil goes into, we are going to look to be champions,” he said.

“That’s the weight the Brazilian national shirt carries. The Copa America will be the same. We want to be champions.

“We will not underestimate our opponents. There will be difficult games but hopefully we can go all the way."

He was the Blues’ joint top goalscorer in 2018-19, hitting 13 Premier League goals, and won the Club’s Young Player of the Season award.

The forward says lifting the Copa America trophy in Rio de Janeiro on 7 July would represent the perfect conclusion to “the best year of my career”.

“Every Brazilian player dreams of playing a final in a full Maracana Stadium,” he added.

“Through hard work and keeping a level head, I hope to be there.

“But we have to keep our feet on the ground and do well in the group stages first.”