Vinicius Shines for Brazil as Position Change Draws Praise

Vinicius was Brazil’s standout performer in a 3-0 win over Haiti overnight Friday to Saturday, scoring once, setting up another goal and helping create the third before being named man of the match. It was his second strong display of the tournament after also scoring against Turkey, and Brazilian and Latin American media praised his form at the 2026 World Cup.

Brazilian outlet Globo said, "He does what is expected of a player at his level. This is what a leader looks like." The paper added that he controlled the game, was involved in all the goals and took over the match, though he looked a little less sharp in the second half after the result was already secured. Columnist Rodrigo Coutinho said that once Matheus Cunha played more like a central midfielder, Vinicius was freed up from defensive duties and found more space in the middle.

Vinicius started on the left wing, but his more central movement helped Brazil break through. Coutinho wrote that Brazil was not especially precise, but Vinicius was excellent, moving the ball, drawing defenders and making the game easier for everyone else. After two matches, Vinicius has two goals and three key passes, although he has completed only 2 of 14 dribbles so far.

The praise also reflected his relationship with Carlo Ancelotti, who coached him at Real Madrid and won the Champions League with him in 2022 and 2024. Vinicius said he played in a different role at Ancelotti’s request, closer to the center and between the two center backs, and joked that the coach will probably say in the dressing room that he "understands a lot about football." The performance helped Brazil finish the first half of the game in control and move to the top of the group.