Key keywords: Vinicius Jr., Brazil National Men's Football Team, 2026 FIFA World Cup, World Cup pre-match press conference, Seleção Brasileira, Real Madrid star winger, senior World Cup debut preparation, Copa do Mundo 2026 Speaking at a pre-tournament press conference held at Brazil’s team base in Toronto, Canada, 25-year-old winger Vinicius Jr. opened up about his years-long preparation for his first ever senior FIFA World Cup appearance, just two days before Brazil kicks off its 2026 campaign against Costa Rica in Group C. The Real Madrid star, who missed the 2022 Qatar World Cup due to a late-season hamstring injury sustained during a La Liga fixture, told reporters that he has spent the past four years structuring his training, lifestyle, and tactical approach specifically to perform on football’s biggest global stage. “I have prepared very well to reach this moment,” Vinicius said, in comments translated from Portuguese. “This isn’t just a few months of training camp work – this is the result of every early morning practice I did as a kid in Rio de Janeiro, every injury I fought back from, every match I played for Real Madrid where I pushed myself to get better for my country. I know the entire Brazilian fanbase is counting on this team, and I am ready to carry that responsibility with pride.” Over the 2025-2026 club season, Vinicius recorded 22 goals and 19 assists across all competitions for Real Madrid, leading the club to its 37th La Liga title and a semi-final finish in the UEFA Champions League. He joined the Brazilian national team’s pre-World Cup training camp three weeks ahead of schedule to build chemistry with attacking teammates including Rodrygo, Endrick, and Raphinha, and worked closely with head coach Dorival Junior to refine the team’s counter-attacking system that is built around his pace and creative ability. Vinicius also noted that he has received ongoing guidance from former Brazil captain Neymar, who is sitting out the 2026 World Cup due to a long-term knee injury, as well as support from his family, who have traveled to Canada to attend his debut match. Social media data shows that conversations about Vinicius’ World Cup debut have amassed over 210 million views across global platforms as of press time, with fans from across the world expressing excitement to see the Ballon d’Or contender compete for international football’s most prestigious trophy.