Fresh off a goal and assist against Haiti, the Real Madrid star thrives in a new central role as Carlo Ancelotti’s side regains its World Cup momentum.
Vinicius Junior said he is at his best physically, technically and mentally after scoring in Brazil’s 3-0 World Cup win over Haiti.
Brazil needed a response after being held by Morocco in their opening Group C fixture, and Carlo Ancelotti’s side produced a more controlled performance to move on to four points from their first two matches.
Vinicius was at the heart of Brazil’s win, scoring one and setting up another as the team found a much better attacking rhythm. After the game, the Real Madrid forward made it clear he feels he has arrived at this tournament in exactly the condition he wanted.
“As I said in the press conference, I am in the best shape of my life physically, technically and mentally,” Vinicius said.
“That is important. I always dreamed of arriving 100% at the best competition in the world and being like this, being able to score goals, make assists and play big matches.
"It's very important because it gives me confidence for the next game and I hope to keep going like this. I'm in a major stage of development to play great games, better than this one, better than the one against Morocco too. I'm here to keep improving and take Brazil to the top."
Vinicius had opened his interview by saying winning the World Cup for Brazil “means a lot” to him, adding that he wants to help take the national team back to a level he feels they should never have left.
“Winning the World Cup for Brazil means a lot to me,” he said. “I hope I can keep at this level, keep evolving, to take Brazil where it should never have left.”
Ancelotti was also careful not to make Brazil’s win a one-player story.
Asked about Vinicius in his post-match press conference, the Brazil head coach praised the forward’s condition but was just as quick to widen the focus back to the squad as a whole.
“He has arrived at the World Cup well, in excellent condition,” Ancelotti said.
“We don’t want it to be Vinicius’ World Cup. We want it to be Brazil’s World Cup.”
It was a fitting message on a night when Vinicius gave Brazil exactly the spark they needed. His individual quality was clear, but Ancelotti’s bigger task now is to shape a team that keeps improving as the tournament edges closer to the knockout rounds.
There was a tactical shift too. Vinicius explained that Ancelotti had asked him to play in a different role, moving inside between Haiti’s centre-backs instead of staying out wide as usual.
“Today I played in a different position, where the coach asked me to play inside between the two centre-backs,” Vinicius said.
“The truth is I don’t play there very often. But when the coach asks me to play there, I score goals, so I have to listen to him more often.”
Ancelotti also pointed to that tactical tweak, noting that Brazil moved Vinicius more centrally and used Douglas Santos to provide the width on the left.
“Vinicius was a little more inside,” Ancelotti said. “It is clear that attacking depth in the centre of the pitch is more dangerous. He scored a goal and made an assist.”
There is still work to do before Brazil’s final group game against Scotland. Ancelotti has made it clear his side must keep improving and use the group stage to build momentum before the knockout phase begins.
After a frustrating opener, this was a much better night for both Brazil and Vinicius.
The forward looked sharp, confident and ready to take on a bigger role. Now, Ancelotti’s challenge to makemake sure Bragrowsgrow alongside him.
