'Vini Jr. has arrived' to be the 'hero of Brazilians': Brazil's top scorer highlighted in international press

Vini Jr REUTERS/Paul Childs Forward Vinícius Jr. is a highlight in the international press on the eve of Brazil's match against Japan in the World Cup knockout stage. The two teams take the field this Monday (29) in Houston, United States. The number 7 is Brazil's top scorer in the Cup, with four goals. British newspaper The Guardian published an article titled: "Brazilian fans were waiting for Vinícius Jr. to be their hero. He has arrived." "Vinícius now looks happy wearing green and yellow; he was voted man of the match in all three group stage games," the report states. "After scoring a goal and providing an assist against Haiti, he scored twice against Scotland. Were it not for VAR intervention, he would have become the first Brazilian to score a World Cup hat-trick since Pelé in 1958." "He saved Brazil with a moment of brilliance against Morocco, scoring the kind of goal he has been scoring in droves at the Bernabéu for years. Brazil was criticized after that performance, but since then, they have played with more fluidity, beating Haiti and Scotland 3–0 and finishing top of the group." The newspaper also suggests that Vini Jr. may be benefiting from pressures on coach Carlo Ancelotti to play Neymar and Endrick. "Perhaps the focus on Neymar is playing into Vinícius's hands. He can simply go about his business while the coach deals with questions about Neymar and also young sensation Endrick," the paper says. "When we interviewed Vinícius six years ago, he said: 'I hope I can make every Brazilian root for me one day.' With every great performance at this World Cup, he gets closer to that goal." The Financial Times also highlighted the forward's central role in an article titled "How Vinícius Jr. became central to Brazil's World Cup dream." "La Seleção lives in the shadow of its past. It is only when the ball reaches Brazilian forward Vinícius Jr. — author of four of the team's seven goals so far — that the fans are brought back to the present," the paper writes. "This team is built around Vini. Even Brazil's ability to overcome Japan in Houston on Monday depends heavily on this crucial player." The Financial Times says Vini is "shaped in Europe" and "not a player in the tradition of Brazilian 'futebol-arte', like Neymar, but rather a more direct athlete: a winger who cuts inside from the left to shoot with his right foot." "Before this tournament, Vini was a peripheral figure in the Brazilian National Team, with only nine goals in 49 appearances for the national side. For nearly a decade, the Seleção was built around Neymar — a playmaker who liked to receive the ball to feet, left defensive duties to others, and orchestrated slow, elaborate attacks that reduced the space for Vini's speed," writes the paper. "However, Ancelotti has built this new team around his cherished pupil. The tactically flexible coach always structures his teams to highlight the qualities of his stars." Vini Jr. consolidates himself as the protagonist of the Brazilian National Team According to the newspaper, Vini Jr. has 3.06 "expected goals" — a statistical metric measuring the probability of a specific situation resulting in a goal — the highest ever recorded by a player in a World Cup, according to data provider Opta. The newspaper describes how Ancelotti's Brazil plays around Vini Jr. "Vini's speed is most dangerous when he has space to run. Therefore, Ancelotti's team — unusually for Brazil — seeks the counter-attack. Brazil sets up a nine-man block, allows even lesser opponents like Haiti or Scotland to keep the ball, and dares them to build an attack. The instant a pass goes astray, Matheus Cunha and Rayan initiate the press and release Vini." The Financial Times also highlights that Vini "faces more racism than arguably any other footballer." "Absurdly, he is frequently blamed for the abuse he receives from fans in Spain and elsewhere, under the pretext that his dancing by the corner flag after goals somehow 'provokes' such reactions. Nevertheless, Brazil and Ancelotti — who left Real Madrid to manage the Brazilian national team — have always supported him." Spanish newspaper Marca stated that Vini Jr "starred in one of the most emotional moments of the World Cup off the pitch." "The Real Madrid forward was moved to tears on the show Domingão com Huck upon hearing a message from his grandmother Nilza, a figure who shaped his childhood and to whom he remains closely tied at every step of his career," wrote the Spanish newspaper. "At the peak of his form with the Brazilian National Team, the winger showed that behind the player who leads the Seleção lies a person with deep feelings."