Vinicius Junior Makes History with Goals in First Three World Cup Matches

Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior has made history by scoring in each of his nation's first three FIFA World Cup matches, a feat last achieved by Ronaldo and Rivaldo in 2002. His goals against Scotland, Morocco, and Haiti have placed him among the elite in Brazilian football history. As Brazil continues its World Cup journey, Vinicius's performance has sparked excitement and hope for another title. Discover more about his remarkable achievement and its significance in the world of football.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 25, 2026, 06:04 IST

Vinicius Junior's Historic Achievement

Florida [US], June 25: Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior has made a significant mark in football history by becoming the first player from Brazil in 24 years to score in each of his nation's initial three matches at the FIFA World Cup. This remarkable feat was last accomplished by legends Ronaldo Nazario and Rivaldo in 2002, as reported by ESPN FC's X account.

The 25-year-old achieved this milestone during Brazil's World Cup 2026 match against Scotland on June 24 (local time), netting his first goal in the seventh minute. After a defensive error from Scotland, Rayan intercepted a pass from Scott McKenna, allowing Vinicius to sprint past goalkeeper Angus Gunn and slot the ball into the net.

Prior to this match, Vinicius had already made his presence felt in the tournament, scoring the equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Morocco and adding another goal in a 3-0 victory over Haiti.

His goal against Scotland marked the third consecutive match in which he found the net, a feat previously achieved by Brazilian icons Ronaldo and Rivaldo during the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. That year, both players scored in all three group stage matches against Turkey, China, and Costa Rica, contributing to Brazil's fifth World Cup title.

Vinicius Junior is now only the fifth Brazilian to score in the first three World Cup matches, joining the ranks of Jairzinho (1970), Romario (1994), and Ronaldo and Rivaldo (2002), according to OptaPaolo's X account. Notably, Brazil emerged victorious in the tournament on each of the previous three occasions.

In the match against Scotland, Vinicius added another goal just before halftime, making it 2-0 when he headed in a cross from Bruno Guimaraes after Angus Gunn misjudged the delivery.