In Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Venezuela during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Thursday, Vinícius Jr. had a tough outing. After winning a penalty in the second half, the Real Madrid forward missed the opportunity, failing to score past Venezuelan goalkeeper Rafael Romo. This miss led to criticism from Brazilian fans and analysts alike.
While Vinícius Jr. excels for Real Madrid, his performances for the Brazilian national team have often been under scrutiny. In the match against Venezuela, his failure to convert a key penalty, following Raphinha’s brilliant free-kick that had given Brazil the lead, left many disappointed. Fans vented their frustration on social media, with some questioning why Vinícius Jr. was chosen to take the penalty instead of Raphinha, who had already proven his set-piece skills.
The backlash was swift, with some accusing Vinícius Jr. of lacking composure in critical moments. “He’s consistently failed to deliver for Brazil,” one fan commented. A few even suggested that his miss might indicate a troubling pattern for a player expected to lead the Seleção’s future.
However, amidst the criticism, Vinícius Jr. received unexpected support from Kylian Mbappé. According to *Defensa Central*, the French star reached out to his Real Madrid teammate with words of encouragement: “Now it’s time to raise your head and keep fighting, my brother,” Mbappé reportedly said.
This show of solidarity is notable not just for the friendship between the two, but also given the competitive nature at Real Madrid, where player tensions are not uncommon. Despite previous reports of a potential conflict between Mbappé and Vinícius Jr. during a recent La Liga match, this act of support underscores the respect they have for each other.
As Brazil sits third in the qualifiers with 17 points, they will need to recover quickly. With a five-point gap to leaders Argentina, the Seleção will aim to bounce back in their next match against Uruguay on November 19.
