Vinicius Jr. could not hide his joy after Brazil’s 3-0 win over Haiti on Saturday. To be honest, he tried a little. There was no restraint in his smile. In an all-cornered world lacking a moral compass, acting harshly can be precarious. Yet, the standard-bearer of football’s most decorated team does just that. In 2024, he broke down in tears at a press conference in Brazil. Not cursing but ranting. Testing the incessant racism to the brink of his endurance, Vinicius declared: “I’m losing the will to play football.”
After two years, you’d be hard-pressed to believe he ever considered retirement. Fake tricks in the favelas, showboat celebrations and improvisations that have become increasingly rare in elite football are all back. When faced with the inevitable question – what changed after the 1-1 draw against Morocco? – Vinicius gave a remarkably simple explanation: “Today I played in a different position. The coach asked me to do that.”
The same number remained the same in the two press conferences. Carlo Ancelotti.
Tears at a press conference, in a sport like football – an expression of masochism and masculinity – may invite criticism from some quarters. If you have to suffer, but don’t cry. Even Ancelotti, still the Real Madrid manager, publicly defended his forward and described him as “the worst behaved footballer in the world”.
His role in rekindling Vinicius’ interest in football cannot be disputed.
And it could have had no bearing on the 25-year-old’s performance against Haiti – with his shot ricocheting off Mathews Cunha for the opener, another defending pass and, finally, a goal to his name. Forty-five minutes of Vinicius at his best. And it only required a minor adjustment from Ancelotti: “He (Ancelotti) asked me to play inside between the two centre-backs. I don’t usually play there, but when he asks me to get back there, I score goals. I have to listen to him more. I’m sure when he gets to the dressing room he will say he understands football well.”
That, he certainly does. One doesn’t need his record five Champions League wins – the most by a manager – to establish that much. Fortunately for Vinicius, the Italian really understands his game, and what makes him thrive.
Story continues below this ad
Being known as the ‘new Neymar’ in Brazil is not that different. Desperate to find a new superhero, the trophy-obsessed nation offers it to any child who emulates a similar style. Vinicius, however, appeared to be a suitable heir. Despite only making two senior appearances for Flamengo, Real Madrid scout Juni Calafat deemed him worthy of a €46 million investment. After losing Neymar to Barcelona, Madrid can hardly afford another miscalculation.
And Vinicius chose the best way to win over his rivals: performing in the derby. His brace avoided defeat against Atlético Madrid B. But Julen Lopetegui found him too raw to be reliable on a regular basis and Zinedine Zidane brought in his preferred winger, Eden Hazard. As for teammate support, there wasn’t much. In fact, quite the opposite. During a match against Borussia Mönchengladbach, Karim Benzema was caught telling Ferland Mendy, “Brother, don’t go at him. I swear he’s playing against us.”
More than dribbling
In his first two seasons, Vinicius scored 22 goals in 69 appearances. At clubs like Real Madrid, with the Euro debit, the numbers were deplorable. Then came Ancelotti.
It was known that dribbling came naturally to the player. Extensively documented. But what was arbitrary in Brazil’s junior league was dysfunctional in La Liga. Vinicius often cut a distinct figure at games; Detached from the play. The defenders could predict the winger’s every move. Accordingly, Ancelotti Masterclass: Dribbling will be an accessory in Vinicius’ game, as it should be, but not at the center. Instead it will be his pace and finishing.
Story continues below this ad
Operating centrally in the half space, rather than sticking to the flanks, Vinicius would attack the gaps between defenders and exploit them with his speed in transition. Surprisingly, he was more involved in the game than before and also more effective. Under Ancelotti, Vinicius contributed 157 goals in 198 matches – 0.79 per game; Almost double the corresponding figure without Ancelotti (0.40).
Despite his Real Madrid numbers, however, that ruthlessness disappeared whenever he traded the white for the yellow of Brazil.
Contributing just 12 goals in 39 appearances – under four managers during this period – he will be hated by passionate fans. It has changed now. He has scored nine goals in just 12 appearances under Ancelotti.
For Brazil, Vinicius has never been so lethal against the opposition. He was never so destructive. When Brazilian polling firm Datafolha asked citizens if they expected Selecao to win the trophy in America, only 29% responded in the affirmative. It may have grown over the past few days, by a negligible margin, as it is for the ‘Vincelotti’ pair.