Vinicius Junior could scarcely conceal his delight after Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Haiti on Saturday. Truth be told, he made little effort to. There was not an iota of reticence in his grin. In an all-scourging world that lacks a moral compass, not acting stoically could be precarious. Yet, the standard-bearer of football’s most decorated team does exactly that. At a Brazil press conference in 2024, he broke down in tears. Not snivelling, but bawling. Unrelenting racism testing his tolerance threshold, Vinicius had announced: “I am losing the will to play football.” Two years later, you would find it hard to believe he ever contemplated retirement. Tricks forged in the favelas, showboat celebrations and the improvisation that has become increasingly rare in elite football have all returned. When confronted with the inevitable question — what had changed after an unconvincing 1-1 stalemate against Morocco? — Vinicius offered a remarkably simple explanation: “Today I played in a different position. The coach asked me to.” Across the two press conferences, one figure remained constant. Carlo Ancelotti. Tears …