Vinicius Jr. nets brace as Brazil thrash Scotland 3-0

Vinicius Jr. scored twice as Brazil defeated Scotland 3-0 in Miami, securing a place in the FIFA World Cup round of 32 and earning his second Player of the Match award of the tournament. The victory highlighted his growing goalscoring form and Brazil's improving play under coach Carlo Ancelotti. A VAR review ruled out Vinicius's third strike, denying him a hat‑trick in the match. He said he had never scored three goals for Brazil at a World Cup, expressing disappointment at the decision. Before the game, Vinicius reminded Carlo Ancelotti of a promise that a header would earn him a present, after the manager claimed the feat was impossible. He later repeated, “Ancelotti owes me a present. I’m waiting,” referencing the pre‑match exchange.

Morocco 4-2 Haiti; Lenny Joseph scores first World Cup goal

Vinicius recalled the team’s draw against Morocco, saying the squad had learned to understand competition demands and choose moments to attack or defend. He added that under Ancelotti the players need to develop further as they enter the knockout phase. The winger, who plays for Real Madrid, praised the collective improvement, noting that “the players are playing closer together, defending better and attacking better.” He suggested that either the manager will continue to improve the side or the players have already reached a higher level.

Morocco and Turkey face must-win duels as Saibari eyes repeat against Scotland

Looking ahead, Vinicius warned that the next stage is a do‑or‑die situation, where Brazil must deliver great performances to progress. He emphasized that continuous improvement is essential to take the team to the top of the competition. Megan Briggs captured the action for Getty Images, while Michael Reaves provided additional shots of the match.