Vinicius shines as Brazil rout Panama 6-2 in friendly

SANTOS: Vinicius Jr turned the Maracana into his personal welcome-home party, scoring a dazzling early goal and setting up another to fire Brazil to a 6-2 friendly win over Panama as the five-time world champions sharpened their claws before the World Cup.

With the 2026 World Cup less than two weeks away, Brazil were without Neymar, who is expected to miss their June 13 opener against Morocco with a calf injury, while Gabriel Magalhaes, Marquinhos and Gabriel Martinelli were also absent after Saturday’s Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.