Vini Jr shines at World Cup, prompting Real Madrid contract talks

Brazilian forward Vini Jr., 25, has scored four goals and provided an assist in Brazil's first three matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including a brace against Scotland. His performances have drawn praise from Spanish daily AS, which urged Real Madrid to renew his contract that runs until June 2027 before Brazil's next game.

The striker's impact places him alongside Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the tournament’s goal charts, and he has been named man of the match in each of Brazil's fixtures. FIFA’s new World Cup Power Rankings rate his offensive output at 7.93, the highest among the competition’s forwards after Messi, Deniz Undav and Mbappé.