Vinícius Júnior: 'I knew I would shine at the World Cup'
Brazil's forward Vinícius Júnior is in stellar form at the 2026 World Cup, scoring four goals in three group stage matches.
Real Madrid and Brazil forward Vinícius Júnior has emerged as the protagonist of the 2026 World Cup so far. After three group stage matches, the 25-year-old has netted four goals and was named the best player in every game he played.
Vinícius acknowledged that he always believed he would reach this level with the national team. "I knew I would improve because of my talent and all the work I put in. I knew that at the right moment, I would shine in the Brazilian national team shirt. There is nothing better than shining at a World Cup," the forward said.
With four goals in this tournament, Vinícius has reached a total of five World Cup goals, placing him alongside Brazilian legends like Garrincha, Romário, and Zico. In total, the attacker has earned 52 caps for the national team, scoring 14 goals.
The player also highlighted the team's collective growth under Carlo Ancelotti. After a 1-1 draw in the opener against Morocco, Vinícius noted that the team matured throughout the group stage and is now better prepared for the challenges of the knockout rounds.