Ancelotti Explains Why Bruno Guimarães Took Brazil's Missed Penalty Instead of Vinícius Jr.

Brazil's elimination from the 2026 World Cup round of 16 by Norway continues to provoke debate, particularly regarding the national team coach Carlo Ancelotti's decision on penalty takers. After the match on Sunday, Ancelotti revealed the official order of Brazil's penalty shooters, surprising many by excluding star player Vinícius Júnior from the top five.

The controversy intensified after Bruno Guimarães missed a crucial penalty in the 11th minute, a chance that could have given Brazil an early lead and potentially altered the game's course. When asked why Guimarães, rather than Vinícius Jr., took the penalty, Ancelotti explained that the decision was based on detailed data analysis by the coaching staff.

According to Ancelotti, Guimarães had taken eight penalties in his career, including five in shootouts, scoring seven and missing only once before this recent miss. The coaching team compiled statistics over the past year for both their players and opponents. The ranking for penalty proficiency on the field at that moment was Neymar first, followed by Igor Thiago, then Raphinha, Guimarães, and finally Gabriel Martinelli.

This miss by Guimarães was historically significant as it marked the first time since 1986 that a Brazilian player missed a penalty during regular or extra time in a World Cup match. The last such miss was by the legendary Zico, whose penalty was saved by the French goalkeeper in the quarterfinals of the 1986 Mexico World Cup, ending Brazil's run in that tournament.

Ancelotti's explanation highlights a data-driven approach to penalty selection, emphasizing current form and historical success rather than star status. The official penalty takers for Brazil in the 2026 World Cup were Neymar, Igor Thiago, Raphinha, Bruno Guimarães, and Gabriel Martinelli in that order.