Brazil exited the World Cup 2026 in the round of 16 after a 1-2 defeat to Norway. A key moment occurred in the 12th minute at MetLife Stadium when Brazil was awarded a penalty after Matheus Cunha was fouled in the box. Vinicius Junior, Brazil's most prominent attacking player, initially approached the penalty spot but then handed the ball to Bruno Guimaraes. The Newcastle midfielder's low shot to the right was saved by goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, contributing to Brazil's eventual loss.

Bruno Guimaraes (8) missed a penalty when goalkeeper Orjan Nyland saved during Brazil's 1-2 loss to Norway in the World Cup 2026 round of 16 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US on 5/7/2026. *Photo: AP*

Following the match, Ancelotti addressed questions regarding Vinicius not taking the crucial penalty. The Italy coach explained that the decision was based on comprehensive statistics compiled over the past year, covering both opposing players and the national squad. He identified the best penalty taker as Neymar, followed by Igor Thiago, Raphinha, Bruno Guimaraes, and then Martinelli.

Ancelotti clarified that the three players ranked higher than Bruno were unavailable at the time of the penalty. Neymar was on the bench due to a coaching staff decision and only entered the game in the second half. Igor Thiago did not start for tactical reasons, and Raphinha had been sidelined since the group stage with a hamstring injury. "We chose Bruno Guimaraes because we thought he was the most suitable player on the field at that moment," Ancelotti added.

The decision for Vinicius to defer the penalty sparked considerable debate, given his status as Brazil's top attacking player. However, statistics indicate that the Real Madrid forward is not a penalty specialist. In his career, Vinicius has taken 19 penalties, scoring 13 goals, resulting in a success rate of about 68%. This figure is significantly lower than the typical 75% to 80% success rate for penalties in elite football.

At the national team level, Vinicius has scored only one of the three penalties he has attempted, with his last miss occurring against Venezuela in 2024. During the 2025-2026 season with Real Madrid, Vinicius took seven penalties, scoring five goals and missing two.

Bruno Guimaraes (8) took a penalty during Brazil's 1-2 loss to Norway in the World Cup 2026 round of 16 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US on 5/7/2026. *Photo: AP*

In contrast, Bruno Guimaraes had a perfect record from the penalty spot prior to the Norway match. The midfielder had scored all three penalties he had taken in his career, including two for Newcastle and one for Lyon. However, this marked his first time taking a penalty for Brazil.

Many fans expressed surprise at Bruno being selected for a crucial World Cup knockout stage penalty over Vinicius. The moment Vinicius handed the ball to Bruno also demonstrated that the Brazil players adhered to the team's agreed-upon plan.

Later in the 67th minute, Neymar entered the match and scored a penalty, reducing the deficit to 1-2 after Casemiro was fouled in stoppage time. Despite Neymar's goal, Brazil could not avoid defeat, as Erling Haaland had already scored two goals for Norway.

Hoang An (from GE, HITC)