Key Takeaways:
- Last season, Vinícius Júnior wore Brazil’s captain’s armband several times due to Marquinhos’ absence
- Brazil secured 2026 World Cup qualification, finishing 5th with 28 points, level with Colombia, Uruguay, and Paraguay, but 10 points behind Argentina
- Vinícius tallied 8 goals in 44 matches for Brazil and 5 goals in 12 La Liga appearances this season
Dunga’s Assessment of Vinícius Júnior’s Leadership
Carlos Dunga, former coach and captain of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning side, has expressed reservations about Vinícius Júnior’s suitability as captain of the Seleção. While praising the Real Madrid winger’s footballing prowess, Dunga questioned Vinícius’ ability to handle the pressures and responsibilities associated with leadership in the national team set-up.
¿Estás de acuerdo? 🤔
"Vinicius es un líder de fútbol, no un líder para el vestuario", dijo Dunga a MARCA.#FutbolRPC 📸 @vinijr pic.twitter.com/83y3u89lDc
— Deportes RPC (@deportes_rpc) November 17, 2025
With Marquinhos absent, Vinícius has assumed the captaincy on several occasions. Dunga told Marca: “We can all behave better. Even when we make mistakes, we need to learn from them, take two steps back, and make amends. I’ve learned that sometimes when someone attacks you, it’s not worth responding. In my opinion, Vini is a technical and football leader, but he is not a leader in the dressing room. He is not a traditional captain. Vini is a technical leader who drives the team in attack. However, Brazil needs a team leader.”
Comparing Club and International Performances
Dunga highlighted a disparity between Vinícius’ performances for Real Madrid and the Brazil national team, pointing out that the forward thrives in Spain where he can focus on his own game without the pressure of the captaincy. He commented: “This is because at Real, he only thinks about his own game and does not have the weight of the captain’s armband on him.”
| Competition | Appearances | Goals | Captaincy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil National Team | 44 | 8 | Wore armband several times in Marquinhos’ absence |
| La Liga (This Season) | 12 | 5 | – |
Brazil’s World Cup Qualification Campaign
Brazil encountered significant challenges during qualification for the 2026 World Cup and ultimately finished 5th in the group table. They accumulated 28 points, equalling Colombia, Uruguay, and Paraguay, but finished 10 points adrift of group leaders and rivals Argentina.
