Luiz Henrique’s Dream Come True: Playing with Vinícius Jr.
Luiz Henrique has expressed his excitement about sharing the pitch with Vinícius Júnior for the Brazilian national team, calling it a dream come true. Speaking at a press conference ahead of Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Ecuador, the Botafogo winger revealed his admiration for Vinícius, stating that playing alongside him was a long-held aspiration.
“I was really eager to meet Vini in person. I’ve seen him a few times and played against him when I was at Betis, but I wanted to play by his side, and now that dream is coming true,” Luiz Henrique said.
This is Luiz Henrique’s debut call-up to the senior squad, and he mentioned how he’s making the most of every moment to learn from top players like Vinícius, as well as other Brazilian stars like Paquetá, Rodrygo, Danilo, and Marquinhos.
He also noted that Vinícius and Neymar, who is still recovering from a serious knee injury, are his major inspirations. “They are extraordinary footballers and excellent players. I’ve been very inspired by Vinícius Júnior and Neymar; they are both role models for me,” said Luiz Henrique.
Regarding the upcoming match against Ecuador, he acknowledged their strong attacking prowess but expressed confidence in Brazil’s own abilities. “We know Ecuador has a very good team with a strong attack. But our team has incredible qualities, so we will do everything to exploit their weaknesses and hit them where it hurts,” he explained.
On the subject of potentially returning to Europe, Luiz Henrique stated that his focus is currently on giving his best for both the national team and Botafogo. “For now, I’m focused on Brazil and Botafogo. We can think about Europe in the future,” he emphasized.
Brazil is set to face Ecuador at the Couto Pereira Stadium in Curitiba on Friday, followed by a match against Paraguay at the Defensores del Chaco Stadium in Asunción four days later. The team is currently in sixth place in the South American qualifiers with a record of two wins, one draw, and three losses, trailing far behind Argentina, who leads with 15 points. Additionally, Brazil recently experienced disappointment by being knocked out of the Copa América in the quarterfinals by Uruguay.