da winzada777： The Real Madrid winger is yet to find his best for his country – that will need to change in Copa America quarterfinals

da aviator aposta： Vinicius Jr's yellow card was a silly thing. It was the seventh minute of Brazil's Copa America group stage fixture with Colombia, and the electric winger was one booking away from being suspended for the knockouts. That was when Vinicius made a mistake. He raised his arm towards the face of James Rodriguez, challenging for a loose ball. Contact was minimal, but the experienced Colombian midfielder sold it expertly, flinging himself to the ground. The referee was always going to reach into his pocket – and rule Vinicius out for a must-win elimination fixture.

That, in turn, leaves the Selecao without their most apparent attacking threat against a dangerous Uruguay side in Saturday night's Copa America quarterfinal in Las Vegas. And it couldn't have come at a worse time. While Vinicius hadn't exactly set the world alight during the group phase, he remains a dynamic attacker – one of the world's best.

The players around him, though, have fallen flat.

And Rodrygo is perhaps the biggest culprit. Vinicius' Real Madrid teammate has been near-anonymous across Brazil's three group games, failing to register a goal or assist in the tournament. Such has been the case for much of his Brazil career, an immense talent who has yet to make it happen for his country. That has to change – and soon. With Vinicius sidelined, Rodrygo simply has to step up.

(C)Getty ImagesA mixed international career

Watch Rodrygo, and you will see an interesting player. The diminutive Brazilian is a rare breed of Selecao star. He has the close control of many of his Samba predecessors but is more natural creator than lethal finisher. He made it clear in an interview last year that he doesn't really regard himself as a goalscorer – instead a provider for more direct strikers in an attack.

The issue is, thus far in his Brazil career, he hasn't really been able to do either. In 26 Brazil caps, Rodrygo has six goals and one assist to his name. Only three of his goals have come in competitive matches – both thrashings of inferior opponents.

Admittedly, it has been difficult for the winger to find a foot hold in the side. Only 15 of his 26 caps have been starts, while positional continuity has also been elusive. Rodrygo plays as a right-winger for Real Madrid, but can also function as a central striker if needed. In Brazil colors, his exact spot has fluctuated.

Sometimes, he has been used as a right-winger. Others, he plays through the middle. And no matter where he starts any given contest, there has always the prevailing sense that he will have to play off either Neymar or Vinicius – relegating this immense talent to a rather peripheral role, with no consistent spot to operate in.

AdvertisementGettyPre-tournament promise

Things started to look up in March. With Neymar out of the national team picture after rupturing his ACL at the end of 2023, Rodrygo was handed a more consistent role in the side – asked to play through the middle in a three-forward setup. Rodrygo was immensely effective in the Selecao's frantic 3-3 friendly draw with Spain in the spring, scoring once and proving crucial in setting up another to mark a sparkling performance.

He was at it again in June, playing a crucial role against the United States in a dramatic 1-1 friendly. He opened the scoring with a clinical finish and came close on a number of other occasions – only to be denied by a fine goalkeeping performance from Matt Turner. There was reason for hope.

Getty ImagesFinding a role at Madrid

Those showings in a Brazil shirt, more broadly, served as a welcome extension of Rodrygo's improvement for his club. The winger struggled to find a role under Carlo Ancelotti at Madrid. For a while, he was a bit part player, an effective substitute – but little more. Last season, though, he became a crucial part of Los Blancos' attack.

Ancelotti, ever the tactical guru, came up with a unique system to account for an unbalanced squad. But realizing Rodrygo's potential to create off the dribble and finish in tight areas, the manager deployed him as a striker alongside Vinicius – with Jude Bellingham tucked behind the duo.

It required a slight change in role. Rodrygo had less room in which to operate, and couldn't scamper into acres of turf on the wing like he did during his early days in Madrid. But it did also put him closer to the goal – with the ball at his feet – more than ever. The result was his finest goalscoring return in a Madrid shirt to date, with the Brazilian scoring 18 in all competitions as Los Blancos secured a domestic-European double.

He may not be an elite finisher – or consider himself one – but Rodrygo can certainly find the back of the net.

Getty ImagesThe Vinicius issue

For some time, Rodrygo's inconsistency in front of goal mattered little. With Neymar to shoulder the load, and Vinicius to back him up and plug the holes between, anything material Rodrygo could provide was merely a bonus.

Now, though, things have changed. Vinicius' yellow leaves Brazil with a gaping hole to fill in their attack. The Selecao have struggled to find the back of the net in Copa America. They were blanked by Costa Rica in the first game, and although they came alive against a dire Paraguay side, their drab 1-1 draw with Colombia – in which they managed just three shots on target – is more indicative of their limited attack. And it might just get more difficult. Vinicius is out, Raphinha is yet to convince and Endrick is admittedly still raw.

Rodrygo, then, needs to find his groove.