Vinícius Júnior stated that Brazil does not deserve nor seek to carry the tag of favorites as they approach the World Cup this summer.
“I think that for our national team, we’re not favorites based on recent performances,” noted the Real Madrid forward said.
“However, the significance of the jersey and the talent in our squad gives us motivation. We want to strive for Brazil to shine again. We have no interest in being labeled as favorites; our goal is to elevate Brazil’s status.”
Brazil holds the record as a five-time World Cup champion, but their last victory came in 2002. Their most notable performance since then was a fourth-place finish in 2014 when they hosted the tournament.
Under Carlo Ancelotti’s management, who took charge in May of last year after departing Real Madrid, Brazil has seen a mixed bag of results, achieving two wins, one draw, and one loss, which left them finishing fifth in World Cup qualifying.
In the October international break, Brazil enjoyed a win against South Korea but suffered an unexpected loss to Japan, followed by a victory over Senegal and a draw with Tunisia in November.
Vinícius expressed confidence that Ancelotti, with whom he played at Madrid, has given the team an advantage.
“We just needed to find our rhythm,” he mentioned. “With Ancelotti’s arrival, we now have a clearer understanding of our playing style, and he alleviates a lot of the pressure on us.”
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Despite only scoring eight goals in 45 appearances for the national team, Vinícius’s performance may be critical for Brazil’s World Cup aspirations. The 25-year-old has impressively scored 17 goals and provided eight assists in 43 matches for Madrid this season.
“I’m at a peak moment in my career,” Vinícius shared. “I aim to replicate everything I achieve at Real Madrid with the national team. I don’t focus much on outside opinions; I know my responsibilities and my commitment to the World Cup.”
“This is where every player aspires to be. I strive to remain at my best, scoring goals and assisting. I assume everyone expects me to be a key player. I’m ready for all the challenges ahead. Having played in a World Cup before, I’m determined not to let this opportunity slip away again.”
Brazil’s World Cup journey will commence against Morocco on June 13. They will also compete against Scotland and Haiti in Group C.