Vinicius Jr Rescues Brazil From Embarrassment With Heroic Display Against Morocco

Brazil had to settle for a 1–1 draw in its World Cup opener against Morocco at MetLife Stadium on Saturday, a result that will leave manager Carlo Ancelotti with plenty of uncomfortable questions to answer.

The Seleção made a shaky start and were immediately put under pressure by their Group C rivals. The Atlas Lions dominated possession in the early going and repeatedly tested Brazil's injury-hit defensive line.

When Morocco forward Ismael Saibari broke the deadlock in the 21st minute with a clever chip over Alisson, the goal had looked inevitable. The setback appeared to jolt Brazil into action, however, and just 11 minutes later, Vinicius Junior hammered a right-footed effort into the net to restore parity.

Ancelotti's side were the stronger team after the break, yet failed to produce the finishing touch to claim all three points, even as the referee added 10 minutes of stoppage time. When the final whistle blew, it was Brazil who felt they had dropped points, while Morocco were understandably content with the share of the spoils.

It was far from the ideal beginning to Brazil's 2026 World Cup campaign, but the team will fancy their chances of beating Haiti and Scotland to advance from the group stage.

The One Thing We Can't Ignore

Much of the conversation surrounding Brazil in the lead-up to this summer's World Cup focused on Vinicius Jr's inconsistency with the national team. Despite his remarkable achievements at Real Madrid, he has consistently struggled to replicate that form for the Seleção.

Yet on the grandest stage, against Brazil's most challenging group-stage opponent, it was Vinicius Jr who delivered when it mattered most. Another moment of individual brilliance from the winger was the difference between the hosts leaving with one point rather than none in a match that could ultimately determine who tops Group C.

Vinicius Jr was far from flawless. There were moments in the second half where he went to ground looking for fouls or was muscled off the ball by Achraf Hakimi. Yet he still found the scoresheet and fashioned opportunities for teammates that arguably should have been converted.

Even so, if Brazil are to make a deep run this summer, they cannot rely solely on Vinicius Jr. The No. 7 needs contributions from those around him, or the Seleção risk falling short once again in a World Cup campaign.

Brazil Player Ratings vs. Morocco (4-4-2)

*Ratings Provided by FotMob*

GK: Alisson—6.6: Had relatively little to deal with for long stretches, but came up with a crucial save in stoppage time to prevent a damaging late winner for Morocco.

RB: Roger Ibañez—6.5: Was repeatedly exposed by Bilal El Khannouss and had already picked up a yellow card before the break. Substituted at halftime.

CB: Marquinhos—6.9: Will be haunted by his lapse in concentration that contributed to Morocco's opener. Regrouped well and helped limit further damage.

CB: Gabriel—6.9: The difficulties persist. Appeared to be moving in slow motion as he attempted to track Saibari before the striker netted the game's first goal.

LB: Douglas Santos—7.8: It was no accident that most of Morocco's attacking threat came through his flank. Deserves credit for holding firm as best he could without making any costly errors.

RM: Lucas Paquetá—7.0: Failed to make his case. Gave the ball away carelessly and spent more energy berating teammates than contributing in attack. His defensive output inflated his overall numbers.

CM: Bruno Guimarães—7.4: Played the pass that set up Vinicius Jr for the equalizer. Was at his most effective when driving forward, though this left gaps in midfield that Morocco exploited on the counter.

CM: Casemiro—6.4: Never managed to impose himself on the game. Failed to provide the steadying influence Brazil required in central midfield. Nonetheless, his halftime withdrawal felt harsh.

LM: Raphinha—6.9: Showed glimpses of quality. Drifted inside comfortably and orchestrated attacks with his sharp vision. His influence from the right side was less pronounced.

ST: Igor Thiago—6.5: Hard to watch as he completely fluffed a header that should have given Brazil an early advantage. Did little to make amends for the rest of his time on the pitch.

ST: Vinicius Junior—7.3: Thrilling whenever he had the ball, even with Hakimi shadowing his every step. Drove into the box and fired home an equalizer at the moment Brazil needed it most.

SUB: Danilo (46' for Ibañez)—6.4: Attempted to combine with Raphinha but struggled to make a meaningful connection.

SUB: Fabinho (46' for Casemiro)—6.3: Added a physical edge that unsettled Morocco. Threw himself into challenges and literally shed blood in the process.

SUB: Matheus Cunha (61' for Paquetá)—6.3: Injected some energy from the bench, but not enough to shift the outcome.

SUB: Luiz Henrique (62' for Thiago)—6.6: Managed just one chance created across 28 minutes plus stoppage time.

SUB: Danilo (80' for Guimarães)—6.1: Had a reasonable opportunity in stoppage time but lacked the conviction to trouble the goalkeeper.

Subs not used: Ederson (GK), Weverton (GK), Alex Sandro, Bremer, Léo Pereira, Éderson, Endrick, Gabriel Martinelli, Rayan.

What the Ratings Tell Us

The Numbers That Explain Brazil's Hard-Fought Draw