MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) 鈥� Brazil star Vin铆cius J煤nior knew what his critics were saying coming into this , that he just can’t score on soccer’s biggest stage the way he can at
He clearly didn’t listen.
Vinicius has four goals now in this tournament 鈥� only , with five, has more 鈥� and the flashy Brazilian got two on Wednesday night in his team’s
鈥淔aith that I was going to improve, for the talent that I have 鈥� I was sure that at the right moment I would shine again with the Brazilian team shirt,鈥� Vin铆cius said.
He wasn’t wrong and is tied for second with France鈥檚 and Norway鈥檚 in the Golden Boot race, right behind Messi.
鈥淣othing is better than going back to the World Cup, to the place where I always dreamed of being,鈥� Vinicius said. 鈥淭o be able to represent my family, to be able to represent a country as important as Brazil, I believe that there is nothing better.鈥�
He also became the fifth member of an exclusive club of Brazilians to score in all three group stage games, and the first to do so since Ronaldo and Rivaldo both did so in 2002.
鈥淭here were always times when I couldn鈥檛 show my football,鈥� Vin铆cius said. 鈥淚t brings a certain relief.”
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti coached Vin铆cius at Real Madrid from 2021 to 2025. While guiding Vin铆cius to global stardom along the way, Ancelotti 鈥� who Vin铆cius calls the best coach in the world 鈥� won two Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles and one Copa del Rey in that span.
And while wearing Brazil colors for Ancelotti, Vin铆cius has been completely reinvigorated. In 39 games for Brazil under previous coaches, Vin铆cius netted just six goals. In just 13 under Ancelotti, he has scored seven.
鈥淚 had no question in my mind of how far or well he鈥檇 come to this World Cup,鈥� Ancelotti said. 鈥淚t makes him happy to play for the national team. He鈥檚 doing a brilliant job.鈥�
After his goal against Haiti in Brazil鈥檚 second World Cup game, Vin铆cius joked that he needs to listen to Ancelotti more.
鈥淔or sure when we get to the dressing room, he鈥檒l say he knows a lot about football,鈥� he said.
But so does Vin铆cius. And he promises to get even better.
鈥淚 will also evolve and improve in the competition,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd the hope only increases between us, between our fans and between our family.鈥�
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Zach Pascuzzi is a student in the University of Georgia鈥檚 Carmical Sports Media Institute.
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