World Cup

Vinícius Júnior Not Only Needs to Win, He Also Has to Help Brazil Win Beautifully

Vinícius Júnior's journey from a promising young talent to a key player for Brazil demonstrates the pressure he faces not only to win the World Cup but to do it with style. His relationship with coach Carlo Ancelotti and his performances in the tournament have been crucial as Brazil try to end their 24-year title drought.

Jul 5, 2026, 12:09 AMClara Ríos8 lượt xem

Let me take you back to March 2017 at the South American U-17 championship in Rancagua, south of Santiago, Chile. Brazil U-17 team faced Colombia in the final match of this tournament as both teams aim to qualify for the U-17 World Cup. The Seleção's young squad won convincingly 3-0 (and eventually won the tournament and qualified for the World Cup). However, among all the future stars on the field, a 16-year-old talent from Flamengo has attracted attention. Vinícius Júnior scored twice in that match, the first of which was a work of art as he lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper from outside the box without hesitation. That was just the beginning of the wonders we have become accustomed to. He won the top scorer and best player awards and a few months later, Real Madrid agreed to recruit this young talent for a fee of nearly 50 million euros, becoming the second most expensive contract in Brazilian football history (second only to Neymar). He finally joined Madrid in July 2018 after his 18th birthday. Time has passed and Vini has won many titles and awards with the club, including three league titles and two Champions League trophies. But for Brazil, the story is different. He only has one runner-up medal at the 2021 Copa América, having not been part of the winning squad in 2019 because of an ankle ligament injury that forced him to miss the tournament. In 2024, after a strong start in the US, he was suspended for the quarter-final loss to Uruguay and once again, Brazil's title dreams were shattered. At the 2022 World Cup, Vinícius was a starter in all but one of Brazil's five matches and scored his first World Cup goal in the team's 4–1 victory over South Korea in the round of 16. However, the Seleção ultimately lost in the quarterfinals to Croatia after a penalty shootout. The title thirst continues for the five-time champions. Brazil has not won this prestigious trophy since 2002, when Vinícius was just two years old. He understood that this was about more than just winning. It was a beautiful victory. The victory of Pelé and Brazil at the 1970 World Cup. The 1970 World Cup victory in Mexico, where Pelé – alongside Jairzinho, Gérson, Tostão and Rivellino – played to perfection, while creating creative masterpieces on the field that led to a 4-1 victory over Italy in the final. Or in 2002, when Ronaldo "O Fenomeno" Nazario, one of my idols as a teenager, along with Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Cafu, also won every match, including the final against Germany and regained his honor after losing to France four years earlier. Vini is on a mission to write another page in Brazilian history, after many disappointments and criticism, including many cases of abuse and unjustified racial insults. But he persevered and danced his way into success and the round of 16 of the World Cup. And now, another step toward destiny awaits in New Jersey, just a hop from where Pelé played his last match in 1977 when the New York Cosmos faced Santos at the old New York Giants stadium. The question is: will the music continue to play for him after this Sunday, and can Brazil finally break a 24-year drought? There is a feeling that, slowly but surely, Vinícius – under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti – is finally finding his form and identity. So far, he has been excellent, with four goals and one assist, but more importantly – he is a threat to opponents every time he heads towards goal. Carlo Ancelotti has a special relationship with Vinícius Júnior. Sunday's clash with Erling Haaland and Norway will not be a fight in which Brazil will be considered favorites. Maybe they will have the advantage in terms of odds and, well, history will be in their favor. But Norway, at their best, are very well-coached and with the likes of Haaland, Martin Ødegaard and Antonio Nusa – this could certainly become a headache for Brazil on Sunday. I have watched both teams compete in this tournament and they both have their strengths and weaknesses. Fans also play a huge role and for Norway, "Viking Row" became the 12th man to help the team have strong victories. But this is where the relationship between Vinícius and Ancelotti became the decisive factor. The Italian coach knows Vinícius very well from his time in Madrid, helping him find his identity and value in a star-studded squad. He also made him more prominent in a central role and allowed him to see that he could be a threat from the wing and as a central striker. In fact, according to Opta, he has had the ball in the opposition box the most times (18) than anyone else in the competition and has the highest xG of any player (3.87) and has taken the second most shots on target (10). Not just statistics, but this is also the process of Ancelotti shaping a leader and a humble teammate. Someone who will do everything to bring the team to victory. Vinícius knows that a lot depends on his role as he is now the creative center for Brazil and even if Neymar is in the squad, Vinícius must lead Brazil to the promised land once again. For Vinícius, this has also been a long journey, as he has been in the spotlight for over a decade, and it is amazing to remember that he is still only 25 years old. But none of that matters to him, because he knows that Sunday's match is the most important of his international career. We will see. All I know is that if Brazil wants to return on July 19, they need Vinícius Júnior at his best.