Vinícius Júnior is not donning Brazil’s legendary No. 10 jersey during this World Cup; that honor currently belongs to Neymar. At 34, Neymar has returned to the spotlight after two unremarkable years in Saudi Arabia, just enough to make Carlo Ancelotti’s squad. Ancelotti had other options in João Pedro, Richarlison, Savinho, Gabriel Jesus, Igor Jesus, and even Antony, but chose Neymar, who is now sidelined due to a calf issue. This injury casts a shadow over Brazil’s campaign, as it has in each of his previous four World Cups.
Neymar’s presence looms large for Vinícius Júnior as well.
While Vinícius, at 25, has emerged as Brazil’s clear star, he has yet to truly claim that status on the international stage. His history in major tournaments has been marked by frustration, with a modest record of just nine goals in 49 appearances heading into this, his second World Cup.
He has yet to eclipse Neymar’s prominence, who was still a visible figure in the stands during Brazil’s draw with Morocco, sporting a backward cap reminiscent of his younger days. Despite not being in the matchday squad, Neymar received thunderous applause from fans, affirming his continued relevance. He even attempted to influence the game from the sidelines, showcasing his commitment to the team.
If there was ever a moment for Vinícius to establish himself as Brazil’s leading figure, it was during this pivotal group-stage clash featuring two of FIFA’s top-10 teams.
Under the watchful eyes of Brazilian icons Ronaldo, Kaká, and Roberto Carlos, Vinícius stepped up for Ancelotti, who has nurtured his growth from a promising talent to a football superstar at Real Madrid.
Vinícius was named man of the match, a choice that could be seen as slightly generous given the impressive performance of Morocco’s 18-year-old playmaker Ayyoub Bouaddi. It was Vinícius’s equalizing goal in the 32nd minute that awakened Brazil from a sluggish start.
Throughout the first half, Brazilian players frequently urged their supporters—who vastly outnumbered Moroccan fans—to rally behind them. It was as if they were shocked that the semi-finalists from the last World Cup were struggling against their opponents.
“The team was a bit anxious and at the beginning nerves were all over the place,”
Ancelotti admitted after the match. “In the second half we did a lot better.”
Despite being part of a squad still seeking cohesion, Vinícius was consistently a threat on the wing. In the 14th minute, he sprinted down the sideline, outpacing his club and now international rival Achraf Hakimi, before delivering a cross that Igor Thiago narrowly missed.
Later, Vinícius exploited space in the Moroccan penalty area, receiving a clever pass from Bruno Guimarães. He cut inside, adjusted his angle, outmaneuvered Neil El Aynaoui, and fired a shot past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. This goal leveled the score after Ismael Saibari’s exquisite lob in the 21st minute.
It turned out to be the decisive goal, originating from a chance with an expected goal value of merely 0.1.
“I believe I can improve a lot, I managed to score a goal, but I didn’t have 100% of my best technical part,”
Vinícius reflected following the match.
From that point forward, Brazil found their rhythm while Morocco settled into a defensive stance. Much of Brazil’s remaining offensive threat stemmed from Vinícius’s left flank. He maneuvered into open space, yet his teammates often failed to connect with his crosses, a recurring issue in Ancelotti’s striker-less strategy. Vinícius sprinted behind Hakimi again, setting up Raphinha, whose attempt was lacking.
“When you’re up against Vinícius, it’s hard to defend,”
lamented Morocco’s manager, Mohamed Ouahbi.
Though not flawless, Vinícius was a vital player for his country. When Brazil needed a spark, he provided it, scoring the crucial goal they required.
For now, this is just what the five-time champions need, and it seems fitting that a player named Vini would shine in North Jersey.
