Carlo Ancelotti praised Vinicius Junior after the Brazil forward scored twice in a 3 0 win over Scotland that sent Brazil into the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage as Group C winners.
Vinicius scored both goals in the first half in Miami. One of them came with a header, a rare way for the Real Madrid star to find the net. The win gave Brazil top spot in the group and a place in the last 32.
“I had no doubts about how he would be coming into this World Cup,” Ancelotti said of the 25 year old, who now has four goals in three matches.
“For him it is an honour to play for the national team. He is playing well and he even scored a header, which is very rare for him.
“I knew all about what Vini could do. He is one of the best players in the world.”
Ancelotti worked with Vinicius for four years at Real Madrid. He said the forward has shown his quality once again on the biggest stage.
Vinicius also scored in Brazil’s 1 1 draw with Morocco and in the 3 0 win over Haiti. His four goals have put him level with France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot. All three are one goal behind Lionel Messi.
The winger also reached a special milestone. He became the first Brazilian player since Ronaldo and Rivaldo in 2002 to score in all three group matches at a World Cup.
Before them, only Jairzinho in 1970 and Romario in 1994 had achieved the same feat. Brazil went on to win the World Cup in each of those years.
“I always say I am not that bothered about numbers. I am not used to scoring so many goals, but the coach has moved me into a position to which I have adapted well, and now I am scoring and helping the team,” Vinicius told CazeTV.
“Hopefully I can keep going to the final. I am very happy with the work being done by the team. If everyone is playing well, the ball will arrive in attacking areas and we will have chances to score goals.”
Matheus Cunha scored Brazil’s third goal before Neymar came off the bench for his first appearance for Brazil since October 2023.
“He deserved to come on. He has worked hard and trained hard to recover fitness. He has done it very professionally,” Ancelotti said.
“He has the quality to help the team at this World Cup and he played well in the few minutes he was on.
“He needs no motivation to play for Brazil, none of the players do. He is 34 but he has the same passion for playing football as a kid.”
Brazil will now travel to Houston for their round of 32 match on Monday. They will face the runners up from Group F, which could be the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden.
Ancelotti believes his side are getting stronger with every match.
“Compared to the first game we are making fewer errors, playing with more rhythm, and we are more clinical up front,” he said.
“In the two games since Morocco we have left a good impression. The objective was to finish first, and now we just need to keep working and getting better for the next game.
“Now we are really playing as a team, and that was of the aim. We are not perfect, we have things to improve on.
“But I am very happy because we have got better already and we are solid now. It’s really important to be solid in the knockout rounds.”
