Vinicius Junior (foto: Getty Images)
Vinicius Jr. was the hero at the Mané Garrincha Stadium as his last-gasp goal secured a dramatic 2-1 victory for Brazil against Colombia in Thursday’s South American World Cup qualifier.
The Real Madrid winger found the net in the 99th minute to cap off a strong performance, with Raphinha also scoring from the penalty spot earlier in the match. Luis Díaz had equalised for Colombia just before half-time.
“Very happy for the game we played. We deserved this victory and I deserved this goal for everything we’ve been working for,” said Vinicius after the match.
An emotional moment for Brazil and Vinicius
With Brazil under pressure and struggling to find their rhythm in recent matches, Vinicius expressed hope that this win could represent a much-needed shift in momentum.
“I feel happy and a little relieved. Hopefully, this is a turning point for us,” he added.
The 23-year-old also thanked his teammates and the national team setup for their support, saying, “Playing with the national team is something you can’t explain. Every time I come here, it’s as if it were the first time.”
Close call ahead of Argentina clash
Vinicius was walking a disciplinary tightrope during the match and admitted that his teammates had to sub him off to avoid picking up a second yellow card, which would have ruled him out of the clash against Argentina on March 25 in Buenos Aires.
“Yes, I was warned. It’s always complicated in knockout matches. You make a foul and you’re already suspended, and I couldn’t miss the next game,” he said.
With the win, Brazil now move up to second place in the South American qualifying standings with 21 points. Colombia remain in sixth on 19 points, the last automatic qualification spot for the 2026 World Cup.