Flamengo academy duo hit special milestone at the World Cup | OneFootball

Brazil face Scotland with Vini Jr. and Lucas Paquetá available

Flamengo’s DNA has been standing out in the Brazil national team during the World Cup. That is because academy products Vini Jr and Lucas Paquetá have now combined for seven goal involvements in the match against Haiti. Now, the duo will be back in action this Wednesday (24).

There have been three Paquetá goals assisted by Vinicius Júnior, and four goals by the forward set up by the midfielder. The pair reached that total in 82 matches played together over the course of their careers.

Since when have Paquetá and Vini played together?

The two Ninho do Urubu academy products played their first match together for the senior team in 2017, for Mengão. The first time one contributed to the other’s goal came in the 21st round of that year’s Brasileirão.

On that occasion, the current Real Madrid (ESP) forward scored twice against Atlético-GO. One of those goals came from an assist by the current Mengo number 20. As a result, the match ended 2-0 for the Most Beloved.

Did they only play together at Flamengo?

The duo stayed together until mid-2018, when the forward reached the required age to play for the Spanish side. At the end of that same year, however, Milan (ITA) bought the midfielder, who then began a seven-season spell in Europe.

The transfers, however, did not mark the end of the partnership, as they would reunite in the Brazil national team from 2020 onward. As such, the academy products are playing in their second World Cup together, having both been part of the national squad in Qatar in 2022.

Paquetá returned to Flamengo and Vini didn’t?

After impressing at West Ham (ENG), the midfielder decided it was time to return to the club that developed him. So, Paquetá said that Vini supported and encouraged the move. “So, have you signed yet? How much is missing? Tell me and I’ll chip in,” the midfielder recalled, paraphrasing the forward.

Therefore, Flamengo’s current number 20 guaranteed that the time will come for the Real Madrid star to return to the Most Beloved. Vini has one more year left on his contract with the Spanish club, but the trend is for the deal to be renewed.

When do Paquetá and Vini play again?

The academy products are available to Carlo Ancelotti to face Scotland from 7 p.m. Brasília time this Wednesday (24). It is very unlikely the players will be rested, as Brazil want to finish top of World Cup Group C.

So, the match will be played in Miami, United States, with coverage on Grupo Globo and SBT (free-to-air channels), SporTV (pay TV), NSports (streaming), and CazéTV (YouTube). Coluna do Fla will bring the result of the match with an emphasis on the Flamengo players.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.