World Cup: Ancelotti praises Vinicius as Brazil defeats Scotland 3-0

Brazil's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, praised Vinicius Junior as “one of the best players in the world” after the Real Madrid star scored twice in Wednesday’s 3-0 win against Scotland.

Vinicius found the net two times in the first half in Miami. He even scored a header to help Brazil secure a win that sent them to the last 32 as leaders of Group C.

“I had no doubts about how he would be coming into this World Cup,” Ancelotti said about the 25-year-old, who has four goals in three matches in this tournament.

“For him it is an honour to play for the national team. He is playing well and he even scored a header, which is very rare for him.

“I knew all about what Vini could do. He is one of the best players in the world,” Ancelotti added. He managed Vinicius for four years at Real Madrid.

Vinicius scored in Brazil’s first match, a 1-1 draw with Morocco, and netted again in the 3-0 win over Haiti.

He is now level with France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland in the race for the golden boot, with all three behind Lionel Messi.

Vinicius is the first Brazilian to score in all three group matches at a World Cup since Ronaldo and Rivaldo did it in 2002.

The only other Brazilians to score in all three group games are Jairzinho in 1970 and Romario in 1994. Brazil lifted the trophy every time one of their players did this in the past.

“I always say I am not that bothered about numbers. I am not used to scoring so many goals, but the coach has moved me into a position to which I have adapted well, and now I am scoring and helping the team,” Vinicius said to Brazilian broadcaster CazeTV.

“Hopefully I can keep going to the final. I am very happy with the work being done by the team. If everyone is playing well, the ball will arrive in attacking areas and we will have chances to score goals,” he added.

Matheus Cunha scored Brazil’s other goal against Scotland. He was replaced by Neymar, who made his first appearance for Brazil since October 2023.

“He deserved to come on. He has worked hard and trained hard to recover fitness. He has done it very professionally,” Ancelotti said about Brazil’s all-time top scorer.

“He has the quality to help the team at this World Cup and he played well in the few minutes he was on.

“He needs no motivation to play for Brazil, none of the players do. He is 34 but he has the same passion for playing football as a kid.”

Brazil will now head to Houston for a last-32 match next Monday against the runners-up in Group F, which could be the Netherlands, Japan, or Sweden.

“Compared to the first game we are making fewer errors, playing with more rhythm, and we are more clinical up front,” Ancelotti added.

“In the two games since Morocco we have left a good impression. The objective was to finish first, and now we just need to keep working and getting better for the next game.

“Now we are really playing as a team, and that was the aim. We are not perfect, we have things to improve on.

“But I am very happy because we have got better already and we are solid now. It’s really important to be solid in the knockout rounds.