World Cup’s goal-of-the-tournament contest is getting spicy – Gio Reyna’s trivela on Friday, Morocco’s through-ball-and-dink against Brazil yesterday, Vinicius Junior’s trademark party piece 11 minutes later, and Nestory Irankunda’s shot on the run for Australia against Turkey that same night.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so take your pick.

Vinicius Jr’s goal is arguably the most technically curious because over time, the winger has perfected the art of skipping onto his right foot and burying the ball with more fizz than a short, brief backlift should give him.

It’s all in the ankle, seemingly. He does it at will for Real Madrid, but not so much for Brazil. Ten goals in seven years is a sparse international record.

The Brazilians are crying out for an individual to steer them, though, because, as a squad with pretensions of winning the World Cup, they have as many weaknesses as they do strengths. Vinicius Jr’s banger in New Jersey was an example of man-digs-team-out-of-hole. Up until then, Morocco – fifth in FIFA’s rankings and semi-finalists at the last World Cup – had passed and moved like a side who have played together a lot – and played well together a lot. Brazil, not so much?

“The team was anxious, there were nerves everywhere in the first half,” Carlo Ancelotti said, at the end of a 1-1 draw. A better second half won’t take the edge off. He hooked Casemiro at the break, with the 34-year-old midfielder traipsing through glue. So much of Ancelotti’s squad is made up of veterans, and not in a valuable-experience sense. The five stars above Brazil’s badge represent their five World Cups (making them the most decorated nation in this competition) but our own Jack Lang cannot envisage them adding a sixth in 2026.

And yet, they do have individual talent: Vinicius Jr and Raphinha the best of it. Football has moved on from the days when Diego Maradona could single-handedly power a nation to the trophy, but if Brazil are to get there, they might need Vinicius Jr to do it once the knockouts get real. The question is: does he have the shoulders to carry this team?

Respect is due to certain other individuals who showed up yesterday. Ismael Saibari’s chip for Morocco on the end of a weighted Brahim Diaz pass, was perfectly executed. Look out, too, for more on Ayyoub Bouaddi, the Lille midfielder.

I can’t imagine that many 18-year-olds have had a better World Cup debut than his against Brazil. He shut them down expertly.

As for Irankunda’s effort in the last four matches yesterday, it set up a brilliant 2-0 hit-and-run win against Turkey, which might be handy for the USMNT.

Turkey were tipped to put the cat among the pigeons in Group D but their limp qualifying aura has stalked them into the finals. By the time the United States host them in Los Angeles on June 25, progression and top spot might be looking secure. Who except Mauricio Pochettino saw the pieces falling into place like this?

• A Tell Media report / Source: The Athletic