Brazil’s FIFA World Cup 2026 journey came to a disappointing end after a 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16. While Neymar scored a late consolation goal after coming off the bench, the biggest talking point remained Brazil’s missed first-half penalty.
Following the defeat, head coach Carlo Ancelotti faced heavy criticism for choosing Bruno Guimaraes over Vinicius Junior to take the crucial spot-kick.
Brazil Missed a Golden Opportunity
The controversy began early in the match when Brazilian striker Matheus Cunha went down inside the penalty area after a strong challenge from a Norwegian defender.
The referee initially allowed play to continue despite protests from the Brazilian players. However, VAR reviewed the incident and decided to support the on-field decision.
Just two minutes later, Brazil received another chance after Kristoffer Ajer committed a clear foul inside the penalty box. This time, following a VAR review, the referee awarded Brazil a penalty.
The moment presented Brazil with a huge opportunity to take the lead.
Why Vinicius Junior Didn’t Take the Penalty
Many fans expected Vinicius Junior to step up, especially after entering the knockout match as Brazil’s top scorer in the tournament with four goals.
Although Vinicius held the ball, he was instructed to hand it over to midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
According to reports, the decision followed a pre-planned penalty hierarchy created by Carlo Ancelotti before the tournament.
Guimaraes attempted a stutter-step penalty, but Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland guessed correctly and made an important save.
The missed opportunity proved costly as Brazil eventually crashed out of the World Cup.
Ancelotti Explains the Decision
Speaking after the match, Ancelotti defended his choice and said the decision had been made before kickoff.
He explained that the coaching staff relied on performance data and penalty records rather than emotions.
According to Ancelotti, Bruno Guimaraes was the designated penalty taker at that stage of the game.
He added that missing penalties is part of football and can happen to any player.
The Brazil coach also revealed that Vinicius Junior does not rank among the team’s top five penalty takers when the full squad is available.
He said statistical analysis placed Raphinha at the top of the list. Among the players on the field at that moment, Neymar, Igor Thiago, Bruno Guimaraes and Gabriel Martinelli ranked ahead of Vinicius.
Vinicius’ Penalty Record Supports the Decision
Ancelotti’s explanation is backed by Vinicius Junior’s career statistics from the penalty spot.
The Real Madrid forward has taken 19 penalties during his professional career.
He has converted 13 while missing six, giving him a success rate of around 68 percent.
His recent international record has also been inconsistent.
Vinicius has missed two of his last three penalties for Brazil, including a notable miss against Venezuela in 2024.
Those numbers likely influenced the coaching staff’s decision to choose another penalty taker during the crucial knockout match.
Neymar Scores But Brazil Fall Short
Despite Brazil’s struggles, Neymar returned from the bench to score deep into stoppage time.
However, his goal only reduced the deficit and could not prevent Brazil’s elimination.
Norway held on for a famous 2-1 victory, while Brazil suffered another disappointing World Cup exit.
The defeat has increased pressure on Carlo Ancelotti, with many fans and pundits questioning his tactical decisions and team management during the knockout clash.