After an impressive display for Brazil against South Korea earlier today, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. took a moment to thank manager Carlo Ancelotti.
The Brazilian winger shone brightly, contributing a goal and an assist in Brazil’s 5-0 victory over South Korea in a friendly match. His Real Madrid companion, Rodrygo Goes, also had a standout performance with two goals.
‘Ancelotti the best coach I’ve had’: Vinicius
Following the team’s triumph in Seoul, Vinicius expressed his admiration for Brazil’s coach, Ancelotti, calling him ‘the coach who has instilled the most confidence in me.’
“He has always been the best coach I’ve ever had. He’s the one who gave me the most confidence and helped me perform at my best,” Vinicius stated, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
“He has joined our national team, and in the three matches I’ve played under him, I’ve scored two goals and assisted once,” he added.
Vinicius also mentioned that the victory over South Korea boosts the team’s “confidence” as they prepare for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to kick off in just eight months across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
“We need to get ready as swiftly as possible because there’s not much time left,” he cautioned.
He further expressed that Ancelotti’s leadership, given his success at Real Madrid, has positively influenced the team’s dynamics.
“We aim to maintain this momentum for an outstanding World Cup,” he declared.
These remarks from Vinicius come on the heels of a challenging start to the season with Real Madrid, where he faced difficulties under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, who succeeded Ancelotti. Although he has faced some benching for tactical reasons, he has recently shown marked improvement, regaining his spot in the starting lineup.