Real Madrid’s forward, Vinicius, has struggled to lead Brazil’s attack effectively. Meanwhile, his main rival, Rodri, has consistently excelled for both Manchester City and Spain, highlighted by his triumph at EURO 2024 and being awarded the tournament’s Best Player.
While Vinicius shines brightly at Real Madrid, he appears lackluster and ineffective in his national team jersey. Recently, in moments when Brazil showcased their iconic samba style, Vinicius wasn’t a standout.
In crucial matches, when the team most needed his brilliance, Vinicius often disappointed. In the early hours of November 15 against Venezuela, despite earning a penalty, he missed the chance after two successive attempts. At 24, with only five goals in 36 appearances for Brazil, Vinicius’s international record is unimpressive, especially considering his on-field conduct issues.
In the same match against Venezuela, Vinicius drew attention for a visible dive after a light touch from Gonzalez. His inefficiency seemed to symbolize Brazil’s broader struggles in the South American qualifiers.
So far, Selecao has only scored 16 goals in 11 matches, with 9 of those coming from two games against Bolivia (5-1) and Peru (4-0). In the current squad, only four players have scored between 5 and 11 goals for Brazil, and Vinicius, with five goals, has the lowest count among them.
During the match against Venezuela, it was Raphinha who opened the scoring for Brazil with a superb free-kick. Meanwhile, Vinicius squandered his penalty attempt. Whether at Real Madrid or with Brazil, Vinicius seems to fall short when compared to Raphinha.
His inconsistent form and lack of impact for Brazil, especially after their early exit at Copa America 2024, are among the reasons Vinicius lost valuable ground in the Ballon d’Or race against Rodri.