Vinicius José Paixao de Oliveira Júnior (foto: Getty Images)
Brazil's World Cup ambitions will largely depend on Vinicius Junior, who is determined to lead the five-time champions back to the top while questions over his Real Madrid future continue.
Spremljajte Nogomanio kot prednostni vir na Googlu
Dodajte Nogomanio med priljubjene vire v Google News in
prejemajte najpomembnejše nogometne novice med prvimi.
Brazil begin another quest for World Cup glory tonight, and much of the spotlight will fall on one man: Vinicius Junior.
The Real Madrid star enters the tournament as one of the biggest names in world football, but also with something to prove. While he has established himself as one of the game's most dangerous attackers at club level, he has yet to produce the same impact consistently for the Brazilian national team.
That is why the 2026 FIFA World Cup could become the defining tournament of his career.
Brazil open their campaign against Morocco, and Vinicius arrives with one clear objective.
"I'm not here to be the best player in the tournament. I'm here to bring Brazil back to the top," he said.
"I have more experience than in the last World Cup, and I believe I can play a great tournament. Representing my family and my country is something special. That was my dream. I want to take this opportunity and prove that we can be world champions again."
The comments underline the responsibility he now carries.
At 25, Vinicius is no longer simply one of Brazil's exciting young talents. He is expected to be the leader of a new generation aiming to deliver the country's sixth World Cup title and its first since 2002.
The arrival of Carlo Ancelotti has only increased expectations.
The Italian coach knows Vinicius better than almost anyone, having overseen some of the winger's finest performances at Real Madrid. Brazil hopes that the connection will help unlock the version of Vinicius that has terrorized defenders across Europe.
His speed, direct running, and ability to decide matches make him one of the tournament's most dangerous players. The challenge is translating that club form into a World Cup setting where pressure is unlike anything else in football.
Off the pitch, another major storyline continues to follow him.
Vinicius remains under contract with Real Madrid until the end of next season, but negotiations over a new deal have not yet produced an agreement. Reports throughout the year have linked him with a potential departure from the Spanish giants, creating uncertainty over his long-term future.
For now, however, the Brazilian insists there is only one priority.
"Right now I'm only thinking about the national team. We can talk about all matters related to Real Madrid after the World Cup."
That answer is unlikely to calm speculation in Madrid, where supporters are still waiting for clarity over the future of one of the club's biggest stars.
But Brazil will not care about contract negotiations over the next few weeks. Their focus is much simpler.
If Vinicius Junior performs at his highest level, Brazil becomes a genuine contender for the trophy. If he struggles, the road to a sixth world title becomes significantly more difficult.
The World Cup is often remembered for the players who embrace the pressure. Brazil hopes Vinicius is about to join that list.