CONTRASTING REALITIES: While Raphinha 'gets away' with Brazil, Vinicius continues not to stand out

Once again, the Brazil national team has made it clear that the days when it was an overwhelming and almost invincible team are behind it. The team, led by Dorival Júnior, could not overcome a spirited and well-organized Venezuela national team, managing only a 1-1 draw at the Monumental Stadium in Maturín, in a match corresponding to Matchday 11 of the World Cup qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

The development of the match, which featured two fairly even teams, resulted in a perhaps fair draw. However, one of the most debated issues was the marked difference in the offensive performance of two figures from the Brazilian squad: Raphinha and Vinicius Jr.

Raphinha once again was the hero of the Brazil national team

It is worth highlighting the impact of Raphinha, who stepped up to become the main reference for the Brazilian national team. The native of Porto Alegre, who wore the iconic number 10 jersey of 'Scratch do Ouro', scored the only goal that moved the scoreboard in favor of the Brazilians.

In the 40th minute, Raphinha, 'pulling' rank, expertly executed a direct free kick from the edge of the area, near the left side of the semicircle, unleashing a 'whip' with his left foot that sailed over the wall and, after hitting the left post defended by Rafa Romo, ended up in the net.

Érase una vez un hombre inspirado.

𝐀 𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐇𝐀 𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐎. ⚽️🌟🇧🇷#EliminatoriasSudamericanas#LaCasaDelFútbol pic.twitter.com/Gm34Jp4ZmC

— Fútbol en Movistar Plus+ (@MovistarFutbol) November 14, 2024

This reinforces the outstanding moment that Raphinha is experiencing with his national team. It is important to remember that in the last FIFA date, he also demonstrated his goal-scoring ability, scoring a couple of goals against Peru.

Vinicius Jr. had another forgettable performance with the 'canarinha'

On the other hand, Vinicius Jr. represented the other side of the coin by having a questionable performance with the national team. The São Gonçalo native failed to be decisive for the Brazilian team's offensive ambitions and wasted several opportunities, including a penalty in the 62nd minute. His execution was not the best: a right-footed shot towards the left side that was not very angled and at a height that was easily saved by the Vinotinto goalkeeper.

Subsequently, the Real Madrid forward had a second chance immediately after that play, as the ball came back to him after the Venezuelan goalkeeper stopped the shot. However, this time, with the goal completely open in front of him and the opposing goalkeeper beaten, he attempted a left-footed shot that ultimately went wide.

In addition to his questionable actions on the field, 'Vini Jr.' displayed a controversial facet throughout the match. From a clash with referee Andrés Rojas at the start of the game to several confrontations with Venezuelan players, the behavior of the Real Madrid forward left much to be desired. Despite his attempts, Vinicius Jr. has not been able to translate his club performance to the 'canarinha', which has been evident on multiple occasions.