Vinicius Jr. Explains Penalty Decision in World Cup Match

In the last 16 clash of the 2026 World Cup against Norway, Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr. revealed that he did not take a penalty kick due to a decision made by the team's coach, Carlo Ancelotti. The incident occurred after Matheus Cunha was fouled in the penalty area, leading to a penalty opportunity.

However, Vinicius Jr. explained that Bruno Guimarães was chosen to take the penalty kick beforehand, as he expressed a desire to be the top scorer of the competition. Vinicius noted that Guimarães's penalty attempt was saved by Norway's goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland.

In the second half, Norway's Erling Haaland scored twice, securing a victory that sent Norway to the quarter-finals. Vinicius Jr. acknowledged that some may perceive his decision not to take the penalty as an attempt to avoid responsibility, but he emphasized that it was a coach's choice.