From Lionel Messi rewriting history at 39 to Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland relentlessly closing in, while Vinícius Junior leads Brazil’s charge with flair and authority, the battle to finish as the tournament’s top scorer is fast becoming one of the World Cup’s defining subplots.

The controversy erupted in the 22nd minute after Scotland defender Jack Hendry hesitated in possession deep inside his own half. Vinicius pounced, won the ball and raced through before calmly finishing past goalkeeper Angus Gunn.

Ancelotti's decision to recall Neymar for the World Cup was controversial, but while Vinicius is around, the wily Italian knows the thirtysomething is simply another option up front rather than the main one he was for so long.

From Vinicius’ clinical finishing to Cunha’s joyful celebration and Neymar’s emotional comeback, Brazil delivered a memorable evening of football and flair.

Brazil beat Scotland 3-0 to win World Cup Group C.

Aside from the Messi incident, the referees have made their uncompromising statement.

Brazil shrugged off their World Cup opener disappointment with a 3-0 win over Haiti in their second Group C outing at the Philadelphia Stadium yesterday, but it was still not the resounding performance expected from a side chasing a record-extending sixth world title.

From Matheus Cunha's brace to Vinicius Junior's strike and Brazil fans' delight, here are some moments of the game depicted through pictures:

Brazil cruised to a 3-0 victory over Haiti to take control of their World Cup Group C campaign on Saturday as the Caribbean nation became the first team to exit the tournament.

Brazil are currently third in Group C, boasting one point from one match, while Haiti are at the bottom of the table, having lost their opening game of the tournament to Scotland.

Romanticism, Samba nostalgia, and the weight of a record five World Cup titles -- all of it met a sobering dose of reality as Brazil began their Hexa campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco at the New York-New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.

“Brazil and Argentina fans in Bangladesh and around the world often treat a draw like a defeat. They simply can’t accept it,” said Masud Parvez Kaiser, former Bangladesh national football team coach and an avid Brazil supporter.

Brazil, 1-0 down against a team on a 29-match unbeaten run, nevertheless needed their poster boy to step up. He did just that, grabbing a gorgeous goal that earned Carlo Ancelotti’s the Selecao a crucial point.

With the 2026 World Cup less than two weeks away, Brazil were without Neymar, who is expected to miss their June 13 opener against Morocco with a calf injury.

Vinicius Jr's first-half strike earned Real Madrid a 1-0 win at Sevilla in LaLiga on Sunday, with forward Kylian Mbappe returning to the starting lineup after being controversially left out by manager Alvaro Arbeloa.

Vinicius Junior struck twice for Real Madrid in a 2-0 win over Espanyol on Sunday to make LaLiga leaders Barcelona wait to be crowned Spanish champions

The victory ended a two-match winless run in La Liga for Madrid and moved them back to within six points of leaders Barcelona, who host Celta Vigo on Wednesday.

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said Friday that Spain was a tolerant country and not racist, despite Islamophobic chanting during a national team match this week.

Brazil have won a record five World Cups, but none since 2002. In the span since, Brazil have not finished better than fourth in 2014 and finished a disappointing fifth during 2026 qualifying.

European soccer’s governing body UEFA said it has fined Benfica 40,000 euros ($46,250) for "racist and/or discriminatory behaviour" by supporters during their Champions League match against Real Madrid last month.