With Vinícius Júnior lighting up the pitch for Real Madrid, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti now wants to see that same spark in the national jersey.
The narrative around Vinícius has long been that he shines in white but fades in yellow. His brilliance at club level rarely translates when he plays for Brazil. But perhaps that narrative is about to shift. Ancelotti, now in charge of Brazil after his successful stint with Real Madrid, made it clear—he wants to see his former star replicate his club form for the national team.
It’s been nearly six years since Vinícius made his debut for Brazil, but his international performances have yet to truly take off. In 39 appearances, he has only six goals to his name. And even beyond the numbers, he’s struggled to make the kind of impact that has put him in Ballon d’Or conversations at Real Madrid. The dynamic, electric forward seen in Madrid often looks like a shadow of himself in Brazil’s yellow kit.
But with Ancelotti now at the helm, Brazilian fans are being given fresh hope.
Ahead of Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Ecuador, Ancelotti added fuel to that optimism:
“I don’t know if he’s shown his best self here. But what he does at Real Madrid, he still has time to show here as well. He is one of our main players. We have to work to ensure he performs at his best.”
Ancelotti also expressed high hopes for another rising talent—Estêvão. The young winger has drawn comparisons to legends like Pelé and Lionel Messi back home. Nicknamed “Messinho” or “Little Messi,” expectations are sky-high.
Brazil and Argentina have a long tradition of dubbing young prodigies as the “next Pelé,” “next Maradona,” or “next Messi,” but Estêvão may be the real deal. Chelsea’s decision to sign him supports that claim. The 18-year-old will join the English side this summer.
Ancelotti believes Estêvão can one day become a key player for Brazil but stressed the importance of nurturing him carefully:
“He is a special talent… He has a good mindset, seems like a good kid, very humble, and I like what I see. But with any young player, we must be patient and careful. He has the ingredients to become an important player for the national team in the future.”
Brazil will take on Ecuador at 5 AM Bangladesh time this Friday. With Ancelotti now leading the squad, there’s strong curiosity about what the team’s style of play will look like under his guidance.
While Ancelotti didn’t reveal much about potential tactics, he emphasized the need for unity and structure:
“We have to defend well, whether it’s a 4-3-3 or a 4-4-2. We must defend together and be creative with the ball.”
“In today’s game, individual brilliance isn’t enough. Players must combine talent with mentality, drive, and commitment.”
