Vinicius Jr scores and assists as Brazil thrash Panama 6-2 at the Maracana

Vinicius Jr scored inside two minutes and set up a second goal as Brazil dismantled Panama 6-2 at the Maracana on Wednesday, less than a fortnight before the 2026 World Cup kicks off.

Returning to the stadium where he came of age in Flamengo’s academy, the Real Madrid forward needed just 97 seconds to make his mark. After Casemiro dispossessed Panama in their own half, Vinicius collected the loose ball, drove at goal and rifled a fierce strike from the edge of the box into the top-left corner. He added a second contribution in the 39th minute, gliding past two defenders on the left before crossing for Casemiro to head home and make it 2-1.

Panama had briefly levelled in the 14th minute when Michael Murillo’s free kick deflected off Matheus Cunha in the wall, wrong-footing Alisson and rolling inside the post. It proved only a temporary interruption to Brazil’s evening.

Carlo Ancelotti overhauled his entire starting lineup at half-time, retaining only centre-back Leo Pereira, and the replacements continued the rout. Seven minutes into the second half, Orlando Mosquera’s error in possession gifted Rayan a tap-in for 3-1. Lucas Paqueta curled in a deflected fourth in the 60th minute, Igor Thiago converted a penalty three minutes later after being brought down by the goalkeeper, and Danilo added a sixth from inside the box in the 81st minute. Carlos Harvey pulled one back for Panama with a thunderous late strike, but the result was long settled.

Brazil were without several key players for the occasion. Neymar is nursing a calf injury and is expected to miss the team’s Group C opener against Morocco on June 13. Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Marquinhos were all absent having featured in Saturday’s Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.

Ancelotti’s side face Egypt next weekend before that Morocco assignment. Panama, drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Ghana, still have friendlies against Dominican Republic and Bosnia before their World Cup debut against Ghana on June 16.