The game was yet to reach its first hydration break. Brazil already enjoyed an early goal. In the 22nd minute, Vinicius Junior, the first scorer, dispossessed Scottish defender Jack Hendry and headed in what appeared to be Brazil’s second goal. The Scots looked dejected but ready to continue. Vinicius celebrated in his signature style with his team-mates, only for VAR to intervene and spot a foul on Hendry in the build-up – the softest possible touch which clearly distracted the defender.Vinicius from Real Madrid could have exploded at such a decision and asked for a card. But on Wednesday, the 25-year-old offered only a mild reaction. He was fit for the next game, scoring again, missing a few more and helping Brazil reach the round of 16 as the top team from Group C, ahead of Morocco. While Vinicius deserves praise for four goals in three games and becoming the fifth Brazilian to score in all three group games, his composure stood out. That’s where ‘the Mister’ comes in, Carlo Ancelotti.If the Italian gentleman has made the Brazilian look like a transformed player in Selecao colors since taking charge, it was also Ancelotti who helped Vinicius turn over a new leaf in his Real Madrid career in 2021, when the Italian returned to the Spanish giants for a second spell.Vinicius endured a miserable season under the outgoing Zinedine Zidane and was often second-choice to Eden Hazard whenever the Belgian was fit. Rodrygo, the other Brazilian in the squad, was also more to Zidane’s liking. But Ancelotti has taken it upon himself to make the temperamental Vinicius the first winning project of his final term at the club.The winger, who could have taken the best of them with his speed – but until then looked tricky inside the opponent’s penalty area – finally found his feet. The coach instilled faith in Vinicius, treated him with love and made one key tactical change: preventing him from taking more than one touch before shooting or playing the last ball inside the box. A player who scored a total of 15 goals in the three seasons before that finished with 22 in Ancelotti’s first year in charge, including the winner in the Champions League. Add assists and Real had a star that could no longer be ignored.The bond was forged; mutual trust was created. Even as Real struggled during the 2024-25 season, with Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe Often criticized for not doing enough defensively, Ancelotti never threw him under the bus. “I’ll replace you if you don’t run,” Ancelotti was heard telling the Brazilian during the tough La Liga game. But once in the press room, facing the hungry Madrid media, there was no word against Vinicius.The tactician knew by then that he was going to take the job in Brazil and there was no way he was going to lose his main weapon. In good times and in bad times, two people separated for 42 years stood by each other. The older one watched the younger one mature. It helped Brazil negotiate the choppy waters of the World Cup group stage after a disastrous qualifying campaign in which they finished fifth.“‘Mister’ knows how to deal with situations and has the ability to understand the formation needed for the team he leads. “He can also make the dressing room happy and keep the morale of the team up,” Vinicius said in the mixed zone on Wednesday, praising Ancelotti.While the 3-0 win was good, with Matheus Cunha adding the final touch, what was encouraging was the subdued euphoria of Vinicius and his team-mates. They know that in an overcrowded 48-team World Cup, this is just a small step and that the first real challenge is yet to come.Vinicius did a lot of things well, but the clear-cut chances he squandered even on Wednesday could hurt Brazil when the pressure is on. Credit to him, he puts in the extra effort, from pressing defenders to getting back when needed, but Brazil will expect a sharper final result, especially when his xG is 3.2.There is still no clarity on Raphinha’s fitness, while Neymar returned to national colors after 981 days and Cunha looked sharp. The midfield consisting of Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Guimaraes is not elite, while right back Danilo left European shores a long time ago.From what we have seen from Brazil so far, they are no better than France, Spain, Argentina or the Netherlands. But Ancelotti knows how to get the most out of a team when it’s not playing at its absolute best.If the tactician is to translate his club success into World Cup glory, Vinicius must once again become AC Milan’s Kaka, Chelsea’s Didier Drogba, Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo or simply Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior. Can ‘Mr’ bring his boy up to the gold standard of greatness? Brazil is waiting for an answer.
