Vinicius Júnior has explained why he did not take Brazil’s first-half penalty in their 2-1 defeat to Norway, insisting the decision was made by head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Brazil’s hopes of ending their long wait for a sixth FIFA World Cup title came to a disappointing end after Erling Haaland scored twice to send Norway into the quarter-finals.
The turning point came in the first half when Brazil were awarded a penalty with the match still goalless. Instead of Vinicius stepping up, midfielder Bruno Guimarães took the spot-kick, but his effort was saved by Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland.
The missed opportunity proved costly as Haaland’s second-half brace secured Norway’s place in the last eight.
Speaking after Brazil’s elimination, Vinicius dismissed suggestions that he avoided taking responsibility, saying Ancelotti had decided who would take the penalty.
“Why didn’t I take the penalty? Because it was the manager’s decision. I never hide or shirk my responsibilities.
“At Real Madrid, whenever the manager asked me to, I took them. Here, I followed the decision that had been made.
“This shows that I haven’t been selfish or acted in bad faith by seeking the spotlight,” he told SPORT.
The Brazilian forward also defended Guimarães, urging supporters not to judge the midfielder solely on the missed penalty.
“I hope that Bruno Guimarães’ career with the Brazilian national team isn’t marred by this mistake,” he said.
Despite criticism of Brazil’s tactics during the tournament, Vinicius expressed unwavering support for Ancelotti, who took charge of the national team ahead of the World Cup.
“He’s a manager who gives me a lot of confidence,” he added.
The 26-year-old admitted Brazil’s exit was another painful setback for a country eager to reclaim football’s biggest prize after years without lifting the trophy.
“We have to move on. I can only apologise to our torcida, who always believed in us and stood by us.
“There’s a lot of frustration because the Seleção haven’t won for a long time.”
Looking ahead, Vinicius said he remains optimistic that Brazil’s next generation can return the five-time world champions to the summit of international football.
