Vinicius Brace Sends Brazil Through: Scotland 0-3 Brazil
Vinicius Júnior scored twice as Brazil beat Scotland 3-0 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, topping Group C and reaching the World Cup knockouts
Vinicius Júnior scored twice as Brazil beat Scotland 3-0 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Wednesday 24 June. The Real Madrid forward opened the scoring in the seventh minute after rounding Angus Gunn, added a second in first-half stoppage time with a header from a Bruno Guimarães cross, and Matheus Cunha finished off the rout. Brazil won Group C with seven points and reached the knockout rounds for the 15th consecutive World Cup.
Vinicius Júnior scored twice as Brazil beat Scotland 3-0 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on 24 June 2026. Vinicius struck in the 7th and 45+3rd minutes, with Matheus Cunha adding a third. Brazil topped Group C with seven points and reached the World Cup last 32. Vinicius now has four tournament goals
How did Vinicius score twice against Scotland?
The first goal came after a Scotland gift. Scott McKenna played a loose pass into traffic in the seventh minute. Vinicius latched on to it, rounded Angus Gunn, and slotted into the empty net to put Brazil 1-0 up.
Vinicius thought he had a second in the 22nd minute when he stole the ball from Jack Hendry and finished comfortably past Gunn. The video assistant referee disallowed it, ruling Vinicius had fouled Hendry in the build-up.
The genuine second arrived three minutes into first-half stoppage time. Matheus Cunha intercepted a poor Scotland pass. Bruno Guimarães picked up possession and clipped a cross into the box. Both Gunn and Nathan Patterson missed the ball. Vinicius arrived unmarked at the far post and nodded home for 2-0 at the break. Bruno Guimarães turned creator again in the second half, putting Cunha through for the third.
Vinicius's Golden Boot push and Brazil's form
Vinicius's brace took him to four goals at the 2026 World Cup, tying Kylian Mbappé and sitting one behind Lionel Messi at the top of the tournament's scoring charts. The Real Madrid forward has scored in every Brazil match so far: a curling equaliser against Morocco, in the win over Haiti, and the brace against Scotland.
This was the tournament Vinicius came in to define. The numbers say it is happening. He runs at defenders, finishes with both feet, and the off-ball movement to the far post for his second showed a maturing centre-forward profile to add to his trademark left-flank dribbling.
Neymar returned to the Brazil squad for this match after recovering from his calf injury. Brazil go into the knockouts with their full attacking unit available for the first time. Signed Vinicius Junior memorabilia is part of the authenticated catalogue at MVPs.
What Brazil's win means for the knockouts
Brazil top Group C on seven points and reach the round of 32 for the 15th consecutive World Cup. Ancelotti's side will play one of the top-three teams from another group, with the exact opponent confirmed once the group stage finishes.
Scotland are left waiting. The Tartan Army opened with a 1-0 win over Haiti, drew Morocco, and the 0-3 loss to Brazil dropped them into the third-placed teams sweepstakes. Eight of 12 third-placed teams progress under the 48-team format.
For Vinicius, the brace is the moment that turns a strong tournament into a record-chasing one. If Brazil go deep, the Golden Boot is in reach.