Vinicius Jr apologizes after Brazil's World Cup loss

Brazilian soccer star Vinicius Junior has publicly apologized to the nation's fans following the national team's shock elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The five-time champions were defeated 2-1 by Norway in the Round of 16, a result that marks Brazil's earliest exit from the tournament since 1994.

In an emotional social media post shared on Friday, July 10, the Real Madrid forward expressed his profound disappointment. "Wearing the national team jersey is the greatest pride of my life, and leaving a World Cup in the Round of 16 is a feeling that's hard to explain," Vinicius wrote. He described the frustration as enormous and overwhelming, acknowledging that the squad possessed the quality to advance further. "We had a group strong enough to do more, and we couldn't," he stated. "I apologize and I will fight for our dream of returning to the top of the world."

The 25-year-old, who scored four goals and provided one assist during the tournament, explained he had taken several days to reflect before addressing the public. He thanked supporters of all ages for their faith and said it would have been unfair to remain silent. The early exit continues a long drought for...