MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Brazilian star Vinicius Junior knew what his critics were saying about it. world cupthat he can’t score the way he can on soccer’s biggest stage real madrid.
He clearly wasn’t listening.
Vinicius has scored four goals in this tournament. lionel messiHe’s won five and has more on the way – and the flashy Brazilian picked up two in his team’s game on Wednesday night. Won against Scotland 3-0.
“I believed that I would develop because of the talent I have…I was sure that at the right moment I would shine again in the Brazil national shirt,” Vinicius said.
He wasn’t wrong and we tied for second place with France. Kylian Mbappe and of norway erling haaland He is just behind Messi in the Golden Boot race.
“There’s nothing better than coming back to the World Cup, a place I’ve always dreamed of,” Vinicius said. “I believe there is nothing better than being able to represent my family and representing an important country like Brazil.”
He also became the fifth Brazilian member of the club to score in all three group stage matches, the first since 2002 when Ronaldo and Rivaldo scored.
“There were times when I couldn’t always show my football,” Vinicius said. “It brings some kind of comfort.”
Brazilian manager Carlo Ancelotti coached Vinius at Real Madrid from 2021 to 2025. Ancelotti, whom Vinicius calls the best manager in the world, won two Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles and a Copa del Rey during that time, guiding Vinicius to global stardom in the process.
And while wearing Brazil colors for Ancelotti, Vinicius was fully reinvigorated. Vinicius played 39 games for Brazil under his previous manager, scoring just six goals. Under Ancelotti, he has scored seven goals in just 13 games.
“I had no doubts about how well he could do in this World Cup,” Ancelotti said. “He’s happy to be playing for the national team. He’s doing a great job.”
After scoring in Brazil’s World Cup second leg against Haiti, Vinicius joked that he needed to listen to Ancelotti more.
“If we go into the locker room, he’ll tell you he knows a lot about football,” he said.
But so is Vinicius. And he promises to get even better.
“I also want to evolve and grow in competition,” he said. “And hope continues to grow among us, among our fans, and among our families.”
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Zach Pascucci is a student at the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
