- Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has hailed Vinicius Junior as one of the best players in world football.
- The praise comes after the Real Madrid star continued his outstanding World Cup campaign with a brace in Thursday’s 3-0 victory over Scotland.
- The two goals took his tally at the 2026 World Cup to four, while also helping Brazil secure top spot in Group C.
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has hailed Vinicius Junior as one of the finest players in the world after the Real Madrid star helped the Samba Boys secure top spot in Group C at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Vinicius struck twice in the first half in Miami on Thursday morning, including a rare header, as Brazil swept aside Scotland’s hopes of reaching the Round of 32 with a commanding 3-0 victory at Hard Rock Stadium.
Speaking after the match, Ancelotti, who worked closely with Vinicius during his time at Real Madrid, said he never doubted the forward’s ability to shine on the global stage.
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Ancelotti hails Vinicius Junior after brace fires Brazil to group summit
“I had no doubts about how he would perform coming into this World Cup,” said Ancelotti of the 25-year-old, who has scored four goals in three matches at this year’s tournament.
“For him, it is an honour to represent the national team. He is playing brilliantly, and he even scored a header, which is very unusual for him.
“I always knew what Vini was capable of. He is one of the best players in the world,” added Ancelotti, who managed the winger for four years at Real Madrid.
Vinicius found the net in Brazil’s opening 1-1 draw against Morocco and also scored in the 3-0 win over Haiti.
He is level with France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race, with all three sitting just one goal behind Lionel Messi.
The winger is the first Brazilian to score in all three group-stage matches at a World Cup since Ronaldo and Rivaldo achieved the feat in 2002.
The only other Brazilians to score in every group game are Jairzinho in 1970 and Romario in 1994. Brazil also went on to lift the trophy each time one of their players accomplished that milestone.
Matheus Cunha added Brazil’s third goal against Scotland before the Manchester United forward made way for Neymar, who was making his first appearance for his country since October 2023.
Brazil now head to Houston for a Round of 32 clash next Monday against the runners-up from Group F, either the Netherlands, Japan, or Sweden.
“Compared to the first game, we are making fewer mistakes, playing with greater intensity, and showing more composure in front of goal,” Ancelotti added.
“In the two matches since Morocco, we have made a strong impression. The objective was to finish top of the group, and now we must continue working hard and improving ahead of the next game.
“We are finally playing as a united team, and that was always the goal. We are not perfect, and there are still areas we can improve.
“But I am very pleased because we have already made significant progress and look much more solid now. Being defensively strong is crucial in the knockout rounds.”
Read more about other World Cup teams in 2026 below:
Morocco national football team 2026
Argentina national football team 2026
Mexico national football team 2026
Spain national football team 2026
Brazil national football team 2026
France national football team 2026
Senegal national football team 2026