Vini Jr., Pelé and more: who scored Brazil's first goal in each World Cup
Forward Vinícius Júnior scored the Brazilian team's first goal in the 2026 World Cup this Saturday (13), against Morocco. He joins names like Pelé, Zagallo, Reinaldo and Romário, who opened Brazil's count in other editions of the World Cup.
Vini Jr. tied the game against Morocco in the 31st minute of the first half, with a beautiful individual play that ended with an even more beautiful shot into the corner of the Moroccan goalkeeper.
Brazil's first goal in World Cups was scored by Preguinho, in 1930, in a 2-1 defeat to Yugoslavia. The last one was by Richarlison, in 2022, the 2-0 victory against Serbia.
Brazil only failed to score a goal in their World Cup debut in 1974, when they again faced Yugoslavia, but were held to a goalless draw this time. The first goal of that edition only came in the third game, against Zaire, from Jairzinho.
In history, only two players have scored Brazil's first goal in more than one World Cup: Leônidas da Silva (1934 and 1938) and Sócrates (1982 and 1986). With Vini Jr., 21 scored in Brazilian debuts.
Brazil's first goal in each World Cup
- 1930: Preguinho - Yugoslavia 2 x 1 Brazil
- 1934: Leônidas - Spain 3 x 1 Brazil
- 1938: Leônidas - Brazil 6 x 5 Poland
- 1950: Ademir de Menezes - Brazil 4 x 0 Mexico
- 1954: Baltazar - Brazil 5 x 0 Mexico
- 1958: Mazzola - Brazil 3 x 0 Austria
- 1962: Zagallo - Brazil 2 x 0 Mexico
- 1966: Pelé - Brazil 2 x 0 Bulgaria
- 1970: Rivellino - Brazil 4 x 1 Czechoslovakia
- 1974: Jairzinho - Zaire 0 x 3 Brazil (3rd game)
- 1978: Reinaldo - Brazil 1 x 1 Sweden
- 1982: Sócrates - Brazil 2 x 1 Soviet Union
- 1986: Sócrates - Spain 0 x 1 Brazil
- 1990: Careca - Brazil 2 x 1 Sweden
- 1994 - Romário - Brazil 2 x 0 Russia
- 1998: César Sampaio - Brazil 2 x 1 Scotland
- 2002: Ronaldo - Brazil 2 x 1 Turkey
- 2006: Kaká - Brazil 1 x 0 Croatia
- 2010: Maicon - Brazil 2 x 1 North Korea
- 2014: Neymar - Brazil 3 x 1 Croatia
- 2018: Philippe Coutinho - Brazil 1 x 1 Switzerland
- 2022: Richarlison - Brazil 2 x 0 Serbia
- 2026: Vini Jr. - Brazil x Morocco
Former team declares support for another country in the World Cup and reason attracts attention
Source: CNN