There has been an undeniable paradox over the years with the duo Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo Goes: no matter how well these two names excelled in Real Madrid’s colors, when playing for Selecao, both became strangely normal.
Brazilian football is going through one of the darkest periods in its history. In the last two World Cups in Russia and Qatar, the Samba team always had to stop early in the quarter-finals.
The 2019 Copa America championship at home came like a rain to end the title drought for Brazilian football, but those were just drops of water carrying a faint ray of hope for a revival because only 2 years later, Brazil could not successfully defend the most prestigious trophy at the South American national football team level due to defeat against the great rival in the same region, Argentina in the final match.
Not only is it weak in terms of achievements, Samba football is also gradually lacking outstanding talents who can carry an entire team like Pele, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka or Adriano in the past. Even with a spot to attend the 2026 World Cup, Brazil is also having to “scratch” when the Selecao is currently only ranked 6th, the last spot to North America in 2 years, even the Dorival Jr. team has a worse record than that. Ecuador, Venezuela or Colombia, groups often considered weak in the region in the past.
Therefore, it is not difficult to understand why the legendary Ronaldinho affirmed that he no longer has the inspiration to watch the younger generation of the national team compete because the identity and beauty of Brazilian football has faded.
Facing many detractors from public opinion, Brazil clearly wants to make the 2024 Copa America in the US the strongest response . Although they are not in satisfactory form, with a squad consisting of a series of good players who are stirring up European football at the present time such as Vinicius, Rodrygo, Gabriel Martinelli, Marquinhos, Lucas Paqueta, Eder Militao or Bruno Guimaraes, teachers and students Dorival is still considered on par with regional football powers such as Argentina and Uruguay.
After the generation of Neymar Jr, Dani Alves or Casemiro, this will be the perfect time for the duo who won the Champions League twice with Real and are predicted to have the opportunity to win the Golden Ball in the future, Rodrygo and Vinicius receive the “sword seal” to carry the Selecao in major tournaments, the first of which is the current Copa America 2024.
However, this is also what makes the national football fans feel most uneasy because despite having nearly 5 years of seniority “eating rice” for the national team, the two names above have never become the center of the game. Even at the 2022 World Cup, the most prominent names in coach Tite’s squad are Neymar and Richarlison, while Vinicius only has 1 goal while Rodrygo is on the bench.
Especially with Vinicius, who debuted for the Brazilian national team in September 2019, after 30 appearances, the player born in 2000 has only scored 3 goals. Prodigy Endrick Felipe, who has only played 6 times for the Selecao, has even equaled his senior’s achievement.
The disaster seems to have not stopped for Vinicius because in the Copa America 2024 opening match against Costa Rica, the 23-year-old winger was given the lowest score by Sofascore in the Brazilian squad when he did not launch any shots or successfully dribble. any attack during 71 minutes of play.
Vinicius is poor, perhaps Brazilian fans should put their hopes on another name and if comparing recent form, Barcelona striker Raphinha deserves more attention.
In the Brazilian team coming to the US this summer, the former Leeds United star is the best striker with 6 goals for the Selecao, equal to Rodrygo’s achievement.
Raphinha is experiencing the most sublime days of his career . In Barca’s shirt last season, the 27-year-old striker scored 9 goals and had 11 assists. If it weren’t for the “fatal” red card of center-back Ronald Araujo in the match against Paris Saint-Germain, Raphinha might have taken Blaugrana further in the Champions League.
Perhaps not having as much success at the club level as Rodrygo or Vinicius makes Raphinha ignored by the media, but this will also become an advantage to help the player born in 1996 focus on playing to carry Brazil.
In contrast to Vinicius, Raphinha was one of the Brazilian players with the highest Sofascore rating in the draw with Costa Rica. Coach Dorival certainly wants his student to continue to maintain the endless energy source like at Barca to turn the Selecao’s right wing into a dangerous drill in the future.
