Brazil’s heartbreaking exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to generate headlines after Vinicius Junior confirmed that head coach Carlo Ancelotti had chosen Bruno Guimaraes—not the Real Madrid star—to take the Seleção’s crucial penalty against Norway.
The decision proved costly as Guimaraes saw his spot kick saved by Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland during Brazil’s 2-1 Round of 16 defeat, a result that eliminated the five-time world champions from the tournament.
Vinicius Jr Confirms Ancelotti’s Penalty Decision
Speaking after the match, Vinicius Jr revealed that the penalty order had been determined before kickoff by Ancelotti and his coaching staff.
“Ancelotti decides before the match who will take the penalties, and he chose Bruno. I’ve never shied away from responsibility. I take penalties at Real Madrid when the coach chooses me.”
The Brazil winger made it clear that the coaching staff—not the players—decided who would step up from the spot.
Vinicius Defends Bruno Guimaraes
Rather than criticize his teammate, Vinicius publicly backed Bruno Guimaraes following the missed opportunity.
“The coach chose Bruno to take the penalty because he had been training them well over the last few days. Unfortunately, these things happen in the game. Unfortunately, Bruno missed, but I hope this doesn’t tarnish his career with the national team.”
His comments sought to ease the criticism directed at the Newcastle United midfielder after one of the defining moments of Brazil’s World Cup campaign.
Why Didn’t Vinicius Jr Take the Penalty?
The decision surprised many supporters because Vinicius had been one of Brazil’s standout performers throughout the tournament and is an established penalty taker for Real Madrid.
Television cameras showed Vinicius initially holding the match ball before handing it to Guimaraes, fueling speculation that the winger had declined the responsibility.
However, both Vinicius and Ancelotti clarified after the match that there was no disagreement. The penalty hierarchy had already been established before kickoff based on the coaching staff’s evaluation and training performances.
Carlo Ancelotti Explains Brazil’s Penalty Order
Following Brazil’s elimination, Ancelotti defended the decision, explaining that the team’s penalty takers were selected before the match using training results and statistical analysis.
The veteran manager also stated that, with Brazil’s full squad available, Vinicius Jr was not among the team’s top five designated penalty takers.
The revelation surprised many fans, given Vinicius’ success from the spot at club level and his importance to Brazil’s attack throughout the World Cup.
Brazil’s World Cup Ends in Disappointment
Brazil ultimately fell 2-1 to Norway in the Round of 16, ending hopes of winning a record-extending sixth FIFA World Cup title.
While the missed penalty became one of the defining moments of the match, Vinicius Jr emphasized that the responsibility rested with the coaching staff’s pre-match decision rather than with Bruno Guimaraes.
As Brazil begins preparations for the next international cycle, Ancelotti’s penalty selection and the aftermath of the defeat are likely to remain among the most discussed storylines from the Seleção’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.