India, June 7 -- "If you mark him closely, he will use his body. If you mark him from afar, he will destroy you." For a defender of Roberto Carlos's pedigree, this analysis about Vinicius Junior is neither emotional nor partisan.

Few players cause anxiety as consistently as Vinicius Jr. Defenders know what is coming. They know he wants the race, the duel, the confrontation. Yet anticipation and prevention are not the same thing. The odds of stopping him were never great, and it's not improving by the day. For Brazil, ahead of a World Cup, that matters.

The early positive markers have only heightened the anticipation. Like every Brazilian before Vinicius, his dribbling as well as celebratory moves can draw smiles of appreciation. The def...