Brazil's forwards step up as scoring average rises at World Cup
With goals in every match, Brazil enters the World Cup Round of 16 against Norway featuring a sharpened attacking line.
Brazil is enjoying a strong attacking run at the current World Cup, having found the net in each of their four matches. The team's scoring average under Carlo Ancelotti has climbed to 2.25 goals per game, surpassing the 2.17 average recorded during the pre-tournament period.
This increase is largely due to the clinical form of the forwards, who have taken center stage. Of the nine goals scored by the Seleção in this tournament, eight have come from attacking players. Vinicius Junior leads the team's scoring chart with four goals, followed by Matheus Cunha with three and Gabriel Martinelli with one.
The current reliance on forwards marks a shift from the pre-tournament phase, held between June 2025 and the final friendly against Egypt. During that period, about 40% of Brazil's 26 goals were scored by midfielders or defenders. The distribution of goals has become significantly more concentrated in the final third.
Defensive midfielder Casemiro remains the only non-forward to find the net for Brazil in this tournament. Despite his role, he has proven to be an effective scoring threat under Ancelotti, contributing three goals in his last 15 appearances for the national team.