Brazilian stars Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo have joined their national team in preparation for the third round of the South American World Cup qualifiers. The Real Madrid duo arrived in Brazil on Monday, after helping their club thrash Valencia 5-1 in La Liga on Saturday night.

Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo both scored braces against Valencia, showing their impressive form and chemistry on the pitch. They are expected to play a key role for Brazil, who are currently second in the CONMEBOL qualifying table, behind Girona.

Brazil will face Colombia on Friday, November 17, 2023, at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez in Barranquilla3. Colombia are fourth in the standings, with 11 points from six games3. Brazil have 14 points, but have played one game more than Girona, who have 16 points3.

Brazil coach Tite has praised Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo for their performances at Real Madrid, and said he hopes they can replicate their form for the national team. “They are two young players with a lot of talent and potential. They have been playing very well for Real Madrid, scoring goals and creating chances. They have a good understanding with each other and with the rest of the team. I hope they can bring that to the national team and help us achieve our goals,” Tite said.

Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo are two of the three youngest South American players to reach 15 goals in the UEFA Champions League, along with Lionel Messi5. They also helped Real Madrid win the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League title, beating Manchester City 3-1 in the final.

The pair have been teammates since 2019, when Rodrygo joined Real Madrid from Santos. Vinicius Jr had joined the Spanish giants a year earlier, from Flamengo. They are both 22 years old, and have been compared to former Brazilian legends such as Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Neymar.

Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo have expressed their excitement and pride for representing Brazil in the World Cup qualifiers. “It’s always an honor and a joy to play for Brazil. We have a great team, with a lot of quality and experience. We are ready to face any challenge and to fight for our place in the World Cup. We want to make our country proud and happy,” Vinicius Jr said.

Rodrygo echoed his teammate’s sentiments, and said he is looking forward to playing with him for Brazil. “We have a great friendship and a great connection on the pitch. We know each other very well, and we try to help each other as much as we can. We have a lot of fun playing together, and we hope to do the same for Brazil. We have a lot of respect and admiration for our teammates and our coach, and we want to learn from them and improve every day,” Rodrygo said.