Vinicius Junior names Brazil, Spain, Portugal, France and Argentina as his top five for 2026 World Cup

Vinicius Junior has named his top five candidates for the 2026 World Cup, telling Caze TV that Brazil, Spain, Portugal, France and Argentina are the nations best positioned to lift the trophy. The Real Madrid forward placed Brazil first and singled out specific players and recent form when explaining his choices.

Why it matters

As one of Brazil's leading attacking figures and a high-profile member of Real Madrid, Vinicius's view carries weight with fans and pundits. His list highlights current international powerhouses and reflects recent tournament form, the presence of world-class individuals and the depth of squads that could shape the 2026 tournament.

Vinicius's top five and his reasoning

Vinicius started with Brazil, saying he places his nation at the top and that he expects to carry a leading attacking role at the tournament, particularly given reports Neymar may have a more limited part to play. He then named Spain, praising talents such as Pedri and Lamine Yamal and suggesting Yamal can be a match-winner on her own.

Portugal was next on his list; Vinicius referenced Cristiano Ronaldo as an enduring figure for the team and highlighted other Portuguese players he views highly, such as Vitinha, João Neves, Nuno Mendes, Rafael Leão and João Félix.

For France, Vinicius pointed to the national side's recent World Cup consistency, noting back-to-back final appearances and identifying Kylian Mbappé as the central figure alongside standout performances from Ousmane Dembélé in recent seasons.

Finally, Vinicius opted for Argentina over England in his top five, citing Argentina's status as the defending champions, the confidence that brings and the continued influence of Lionel Messi.

How his list compares with rankings and recent tournaments

Vinicius's five largely align with the profile of strong international sides, though FIFA's rankings at the time of the World Soccer Talk report had France first, followed by Spain, Argentina, England and Portugal; Brazil sat sixth. The report notes that ranking position does not guarantee tournament progress, recalling that several top-ranked teams underperformed at the 2022 World Cup while lower-ranked nations made deep runs.

Key points

What happens next

Vinicius's comments reflect opinions ahead of a tournament that will be shaped by qualification, form, fitness and tactical decisions. Readers should consult the original Caze TV interview for full context and any extended remarks; updates to team selections and player fitness closer to the 2026 World Cup will ultimately determine which nations emerge as genuine favourites.