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4 weeks ago
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Author of his team’s only goal in Brazil’s victory over Ecuador this Saturday, in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers (1-0), Rodrygo shone.
This week, his absence from the list of thirty nominees for the 2024 Ballon d’Or has caused a lot of reaction. Despite winning as many titles as Vinicius Junior with Real Madrid, Rodrygo has not been favored by those in charge of creating this famous selection for the coveted individual trophy. The Brazilian striker responded on the field by scoring the winning goal for the Seleçao against Ecuador (1-0) on the night of Friday to Saturday, for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers for the South American zone.
Dominant in terms of ball possession, the Brazilians nevertheless had much more difficulty in front of goal. Solid on their bases, the Ecuadorians pushed them back for a long time. Until the end of the first half hour, when Rodrygo, well launched by Paqueta, opened the scoring (1-0, 30th). A single goal that would prove decisive since no other would be scored on either side, until the final whistle.
Brazil is back on track
Also starting for this match, Vinicius Junior, however, had a disappointing performance. Like his start to the season with Real Madrid, the striker did not show much good and was even the lowest rated of his team. Struggling in duels, he was very little seen, one of his rare good plays being an inspired pass to Rodrygo whose shot went a few centimeters from the opponent’s goal.
While they were on a three-game losing streak in these qualifiers, Brazil gave themselves a little breathing room with a win that puts them back in fourth position, eight points behind leaders Argentina. As for Rodrygo, he showed Real Madrid that they will surely have to count on him and that he will not be content to play second fiddle to Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
