Vinicius Junior Sparks Controversy in Brazil-Venezuela Draw (1-1)
On Thursday evening, Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior was at the center of a fresh controversy during Brazil’s 1-1 draw against Venezuela in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The incident occurred early in the match, when Vinicius, visibly frustrated after the referee decided not to grant him an advantage in what appeared to be a promising play, was caught on camera shouting, “Go f*ck yourself.” The outburst, reported by the Spanish daily *Sport* and confirmed by a Brazilian commentator, did not go unnoticed by viewers. The commentator remarked, “You don’t need to be an expert in lip-reading to understand his words.”
The Brazilian forward has been under considerable pressure in recent weeks, particularly after missing out on a spot in the Ballon d’Or top three, a snub that seemed to weigh heavily on him throughout the match. His frustration was palpable, not just in his words but also in his performance on the pitch.
In the second half, with the score tied 1-1, Vinicius had a golden opportunity to give Brazil the lead when he stepped up to take a penalty. However, his shot was saved by Venezuela’s goalkeeper, further adding to the winger’s growing frustration.
The match also saw tensions rise late on when Vinicius was involved in an altercation with Venezuela’s Alexander Gonzalez. After a foul was called on Gonzalez, the Venezuelan player slapped Vinicius in what was a clear display of irritation. The referee immediately sent Gonzalez off, reducing Venezuela to 10 men for the remainder of the match.
Despite Brazil’s dominance in possession and attacking play, the 1-1 draw left them in third place in the South American qualifying standings, with a crucial match against Uruguay scheduled in just five days. Vinicius and his teammates will be hoping to recover from this frustrating result and end 2024 on a more positive note as they look ahead to their next challenge under coach Tite.
