Vinícius Júnior

Brazil former star Filipe Luis highlighted the importance of Carlo Ancelotti at this crucial moment. With two months to go before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Brazil are hopeful that Carlo Ancelotti can provide the national team with a tactical identity that allows them to compete for the title in North America. Filipe Luis expressed confidence that the Italian coach will get the job done in time. “Ancelotti brings us many good things,” Filipe Luis said during a conference organized by Conmebol this week, according to Diario AS. “There are no guarantees we’ll win anything, but it’s the best that could have happened.” The former Atletico Madrid defender pointed to the timing of Ancelotti’s arrival to take over the national team. In mid-2025, Brazil were coming off a heavy loss to Argentina in Buenos Aires and, with four matches remaining in the South American qualifiers, had not yet secured their place in the World Cup. Carlo Ancelotti delivered the results needed to achieve that goal and has since used every FIFA break to shape a team that had struggled to meet expectations since the departure of Tite after the 2022 World Cup at Qatar. Vinicius Junior is subbed off by Carlo Ancelotti, Head Coach of Brazil. Filipe Luis believes in Brazil’s chances The general consensus among fans and analysts lists Spain, France and Argentina as the top favorites to win the 2026 World Cup. Despite being the most successful national team in the competition’s history, Brazil are not placed in that top tier, but rather in a second group alongside other powerhouses such as Germany, England and Portugal. However, Filipe Luis warned those who might count Brazil out of the title race. “Brazil will always be one of the favorites, even when things aren’t going well,” said the former Flamengo manager, extending that view to Argentina as well. To support his confidence in Ancelotti’s squad, Filipe Luis pointed to the team’s individual talent: “People don’t believe Brazil can win. But if you look at the five best players in the world, we have two: Raphinha and Vini Jr.” Brazil’s path in the 2026 World Cup Brazil are in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They will open their campaign on June 13 against Morocco at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, before traveling to Philadelphia six days later to face Haiti. Their final group-stage match will be on June 24 in Miami against Scotland. If everything goes as expected and Carlo Ancelotti’s side finish top of the group, they will advance to the Round of 16, where they would face the runner-up of Group F — made up of Netherlands, Japan, Sweden and Tunisia — in Houston on June 29.

Jude Bellingham has said that he, Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior can deliver together on the pitch for Real Madrid ahead of an "all-or-nothing" Champions League quarterfinal second leg at Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Esterno d'attacco classe 2003, è il nuovo talento del calcio spagnolo e può finire al centro del mercato

Bayern will face Real Madrid in the second leg of the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. Check here for kickoff times and how to watch the match on TV or via streaming in the United States. Here are all of the details of where you can watch Bayern vs Real Madrid on US television and via legal streaming: WHO Bayern vs Real Madrid WHAT UEFA Champions League WHEN 3pm ET / 12pm PT • Wednesday, April 15, 2026 WHERE Paramount+, DirecTV Stream, DAZN, Univision, TUDN, and ViX FREE TRIAL WATCH NOW Match Overview Real Madrid head into the decisive second leg trailing on aggregate, but their late push in the opener—highlighted by a key goal that cut Bayern Munich’s lead to 2-1—has kept this heavyweight showdown finely balanced. Bayern, now back on home soil, will aim to build on their advantage after dictating much of the first meeting, yet the presence of Kylian Mbappe and Madrid’s reputation for thriving under pressure ensures there’s little separating these European giants as a semifinal spot hangs in the balance. More details on how to watch Paramount+ is now offering a 7-day free trial promotion for new subscribers, giving fans the ability to watch a ton of soccer fans (and other content) for free. After the 7-day trial, Paramount+ is just $7.99 per month. Paramount+ features more than 2,000 live matches each year. In addition to Serie A, the extensive portfolio of soccer properties also includes EFL Championship, EFL League One, EFL League Two, Coppa Italia, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League; NWSL; and much more. Paramount+ includes exclusive original programs such as: Halo, Star Trek: Discovery, Frasier, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, and Evil, as well as movies including Mean Girls, Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning and more. You can also stream CBSN (CBS News), CBS Sports HQ and ET Live, as well as — with the Premium Plan — your local CBS network. Paramount+ is available on PC or Mac as well as Roku, iPhone and Android phones, Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, PlayStation 4, Samsung smart TV, Vizio and XBOX One. If you’re planning to follow more games on this platform, you can check out the full Paramount+ soccer schedule to stay up to date with upcoming matches available via the service. Here are the steps to sign up for your 7-day free trial to Paramount+: 1. After clicking the ‘Try It Free’ button, you’ll see the following page that explains the two choices you’ll find. Click ‘Continue’ to be presented with the options: 2. Choose between the ‘Paramount+ Essential’ or ‘Paramount+ With Showtime’ options. If you want to save over 15% with an annual plan, click the Annual option. Then hit ‘Continue’ to move on. 3. Next, you’ll need to create a free Paramount+ account: 4. Enter your contact details, and click ‘Continue’ to move to the next step. 5. The following page explains the free 7-day trial: 6. Enter your payment details and then click ‘Start Paramount+’ to begin your free trial. SEE MORE: Schedule of UEFA Champions League games on US TV and streaming How to watch anywhere with VPN If you’re abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out World Soccer Talk’s guide to the best VPNs for streaming soccer. Free resources available to you World Soccer Talk is the number one destination in the United States for soccer television and streaming information. We recommend that you bookmark our soccer games on TV today page as well as subscribing to our free daily email newsletter that includes TV schedules and the latest soccer news and opinion from around the world. Courtesy of World Soccer Talk, download a complimentary copy of The Ultimate Soccer TV And Streaming Guide, which features details on where to watch all of the leagues from around the world on US TV and streaming. To find out when soccer games are on, download the free Soccer TV Schedules App which includes listings of all of the live soccer matches available in the United States (available on Apple iOS devices and Android devices).

In the middle of growing speculation, Ancelotti made his stance unmistakably clear regarding Neymar’s path back into the squad. The future of Neymar has once again taken center stage as Carlo Ancelotti weighs his options ahead of the 2026 World Cup. With Brazil preparing for the tournament, uncertainty surrounds whether the Santos forward will make the final squad, adding intrigue to an already competitive selection process. The situation has grown even more compelling given Neymar’s recent struggles at club level, where consistency and fitness have remained ongoing concerns. As Brazil continues its preparations, the spotlight now shifts to whether the veteran can rediscover his best form in time to convince the national setup. Neymar’s journey back to the top has been anything but straightforward, with injuries playing a major role in disrupting his rhythm. Since suffering a serious knee injury in October 2023, he has struggled to regain sustained momentum, both physically and in terms of regular playing time. Despite returning to Santos, his appearances have been limited, and maintaining consistency has proven difficult. He has featured only six times this season in all competitions, scoring three goals, a return that hints at promise but still falls short of expectations for a player of his stature. The current year has been particularly challenging for Neymar, as he continues to search for rhythm following multiple setbacks. Neymar Jr of Santos. His 2026 goalscoring form has been inconsistent, raising legitimate concerns about whether he can reach the level required for international competition. However, upcoming matches present an opportunity to change that narrative. Each performance now carries extra weight, as Neymar looks to prove he can still deliver at the highest level and silence doubts surrounding his place in the squad. What did Ancelotti say? The mystery surrounding Neymar’s future was partially addressed when Ancelotti finally spoke about the situation. Brazil’s head coach has left the door open for the forward’s inclusion, provided he meets key physical and performance standards in the coming weeks. “He’s a great talent, and it’s normal that people think he can help us win the next World Cup,” Ancelotti stated in an interview with L’Equipe. “He’s currently being evaluated by the CBF, by me, and he still has two months to show that he has the qualities to play in the next World Cup.” One theme stands out above all others in Ancelotti’s assessment: fitness. The Brazilian national team is prioritizing physical readiness as it builds toward the tournament, leaving little room for sentiment. “I’m going to call up the players who are physically ready,” he added. Carlo Ancelotti greets Vinicius Junior of Brazil after being subbed. “After his knee injury, Neymar has come back well; he’s scoring goals. He needs to continue in this direction and improve his fitness. He’s on the right track.” This emphasis underlines the reality that reputation alone will not secure Neymar a place in the squad. Brazil’s competitive landscape complicates everythinmg Brazil’s attacking depth adds another layer of complexity to Neymar’s situation. With emerging talents, including Endrick, Luiz Henrique, Igor Thiago, Gabriel Martinelli, Estevao, and Vitor Roque, and in-form forwards such as Vinicius, Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, Richarlison, and Antony pushing for inclusion, competition for places is fierce. The national team, Brazil national team, has already demonstrated its willingness to move forward without relying solely on its biggest star. Neymar’s absence from recent friendlies against top opposition highlighted this shift, even as fans continued to chant his name from the stands.

In “The Lion Grown Old”, one of Aesop’s fables, an elderly, feeble lion lies at the mouth of his cave. Once feared and revered by all, the dying lion is visited by his old enemies. A bull comes along and gores him with its horns. A boar drives at him with its tusks. Even a… The post The Lion Grown Old: The Plight of José Mourinho first appeared on Breaking The Lines.

Chelsea have made a formal enquiry about the availability of Vinicius Junior, according to Fichajes, with the Blues moving proactively to explore a transfer as contract negotiations between the Brazilian and Real Madrid continue to stall. Vinicius Jr enters the final year of his contract at the Bernabeu this summer. Real Madrid have offered him […] The post Chelsea have made a formal approach to sign the best winger in the world from Real Madrid first appeared on Premier League News Now.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior was heavily criticized by Rafael van der Vaart following the loss to Bayern Munich. The 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu left Real Madrid on the brink of elimination in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. Vinicius Junior came under heavy criticism after the match from Rafael van der Vaart. “Vinicius is horrible,” the former Dutch midfielder said during an appearance on Ziggo Sport following Tuesday’s Champions League match in Spain. “He annoys me to no end when I see him.” Van der Vaart went on to explain the reasons behind his criticism of the Brazilian winger. “As soon as he gets a little push, he throws himself down, hoping to see a red card for the opponent, and then gets up as if nothing happened,” he said. However, the former Ajax and Real Madrid player did not hesitate to acknowledge Vinicius’ talent on the field. In fact, he emphasized how that behavior detracts from his ability: “That’s the part that I find sad about him. I find it incredibly sad because he’s a fantastic player.” Rafael Van der Vaart playing for Real Madrid in 2010. Vinicius’ performances this season Criticism of Vinicius is common, and in most cases it is not related to his performances on the field or his ability on the ball, but rather to his behavior. The 25-year-old winger has often drawn the frustration of opponents, who believe he does not always conduct himself with respect. However, Vinicius’ on-field production is beyond question, and that is reflected in his numbers. Even in a season in which Real Madrid have posted disappointing results and gone through a coaching change, the Brazilian has stood out: Vinicius has recorded 17 goals and 13 assists in 45 appearances. Van der Vaart knows what he’s talking about Criticism of Vinicius Junior coming from Rafael van der Vaart carries added weight compared to most opinions. The former Dutch international speaks from experience, having played for Real Madrid and understanding the club’s culture and its fanbase. Van der Vaart began his professional career at Ajax in 1999 before moving to Hamburger SV six years later, where his performances prompted Real Madrid to pay around $15 million for him. In Spain, he spent two seasons with the club between 2008 and 2010, making 73 appearances, scoring 12 goals, and winning one title.

Manuel Neuer was the best goalkeeper in the world in his 20s and 30s, and arguably still is after turning 40 at the end of March. Just ask Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior...