Brazil’s World Cup last-16 clash with Norway has triggered fresh debate after Bruno Guimaraes missed a crucial penalty while Vinicius Junior stayed on the pitch.
The penalty came after Matheus Cunha was brought down inside the box. But instead of Vinicius taking it, Guimaraes stepped up. Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland read the stuttering run-up perfectly and made a fine save. The stop changed the flow of the game and quickly got fans and pundits talking.
Many questioned why coach Ancelotti did not hand the penalty to Vinicius. The decision was not based on status alone. Vinicius has taken 19 penalties in his career and scored 13, giving him a success rate of about 68%. That is below the usual 75 to 80% rate among top penalty takers. His record for Brazil is even weaker. He has missed two of the three penalties he has taken for the national team, including one against Venezuela in 2024. Those numbers help explain Ancelotti’s decision.
Guimaraes, meanwhile, had a perfect record before the match. He had scored all three of his senior club penalties, with two for Newcastle and one for Lyon. He had never taken a penalty for Brazil before, but that flawless record convinced Ancelotti to trust him. Nyland, however, brought that run to an end in the World Cup knockout match.
