Brazil defeated South Korea 5-0 in an international friendly at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Friday. Chelsea winger Estevao and Real Madrid forward Rodrygo both scored twice, with Vinicius Junior adding a fifth, as Carlo Ancelotti’s side showcased their attacking quality. The match also saw home captain Son Heung-min make his 137th appearance, a new record for the South Korean men's team.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 13th minute when an incisive through ball from Bruno Guimaraes found Estevao, who finished from close range. Brazil continued to threaten and doubled their lead four minutes before halftime, as Rodrygo evaded the South Korean defence with skillful footwork before firing the ball into the bottom corner.
Brazil’s momentum carried into the second half with two quick goals, Estevao capitalized on a defensive error to score his second in the 47th minute, and just two minutes later, Rodrygo also completed his brace with another clinical finish. Vinicius Junior capped off the rout in the 77th minute, breaking away on a counter-attack to make it 5-0.
After the match, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance. "Our journey to the World Cup started today and started well because the team played very well. I enjoyed the game, obviously, because the team showed great quality," Ancelotti said. "When the team has this foundation, we have a great chance of doing things very well."
Rodrygo also commented on the team's tactical approach, which featured a high press led by the forwards. "Everyone defends, everyone helps... little-by-little, the attack starts to work. I'm very happy with the victory and with my personal performance too," he told Brazilian TV Globo. Brazil will continue its preparations for the 2026 World Cup with another friendly against Japan on Tuesday, while South Korea is set to host Paraguay.
