Vinícius: A star who remains a key player for Brazil

Vinícius Júnior remains central to Brazil’s plans under Carlo Ancelotti, even though his start to the new season with Real Madrid has been modest.

Recent numbers for club and country

Footballi cited recent figures showing 7 goals and 3 assists in Vinícius’s last 10 games, though the source also noted that other statistical feeds do not fully match that exact span or total. Opta Analyst’s World Cup figures for 2026 list him with 5 appearances, 4 goals and 1 assist, while his World Cup qualifying record is given as 11 matches, 2 goals and 1 assist.

His Opta national-team total stands at 34 caps, 10 goals and 4 assists.

Ancelotti keeps backing him

Vinícius has scored once in 8 club matches so far this season, but Ancelotti still trusts him to change games even when he is not at his best. In Brazil’s 4-2 win over Australia, he won a penalty and helped set up the third goal.

Ancelotti continues to lean on the winger, whose pace, dribbling and movement remain central to Brazil’s attack.