Copa America: All eyes on Ballon d'Or seeking Vinícius Jr. as Brazil begins campaign against Costa Rica

How do you make a rock-solid case to win the Ballon d'Or? Try these three easy steps: win your domestic league, win the Champions League, and lead your country to victory at a major tournament.

For Vinícius Júnior, it's two out of three so far this year. The 23-year-old forward was key to Real Madrid's 2023-24 La Liga and Champions League double. He was the standout player in Madrid's league title run-in, and then scored in their Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund on June 1.

Now he has the chance to shine with Brazil at the Copa América, starting with their Group D opener against Costa Rica in Los Angeles on Monday. But unlike with his club, Vinícius is yet to fully graduate to "main man" status in his country.

At the 2021 Copa América -- Vinícius' first senior international tournament -- he was used exclusively as a substitute, making four appearances off the bench. At the 2022 World Cup, the Brazil team revolved around Neymar, with Vinícius fitting in on the left in their disappointing run to the quarterfinals.

Since that World Cup failure, Brazil has struggled to find any rhythm, with three coaches overseeing a string of unconvincing results. Neymar misses out on the Copa América with a long-term ACL injury, and that means a star-shaped hole at the center of the Brazil attack.

The question now is whether Vinícius will be allowed to showcase his new, all-round game with Brazil. The good news for him is that there is no Neymar to take the spotlight at this Copa América and insist on having the attack built around him. There is also no Richarlison, another frequent center-forward selection for Brazil in recent years.

Instead, the competition for places in attack comes from club colleague Rodrygo, Madrid-bound teenage sensation Endrick -- who is just 17 -- as well as Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, Girona's Savinho and Porto's Evanilson. All are talented, but none are likely to obscure Vinícius, at least right now.

Even Brazil's disastrous string of results in 2026 World Cup qualifying -- with just two wins in six games so far -- and the consequent arrival of a new coach in Dorival Júnior, present Vinícius with an opportunity. This is a team in need of a new direction, without an obvious leader in attack.

Sources told ESPN that Brazil's coaching staff have been encouraged and impressed by Vinícius' development with Real Madrid over the last year. They now see the possibility of picking him at center-forward, with Rodrygo moving out wide.

Brazil's four friendlies in 2024 have found Dorival Júnior in the process of searching for his team's preferred attacking shape. In the 1-0 win over England at Wembley on March 23, Vinícius started on the left of a front three with Rodrygo and Raphinha, before Endrick won the game off the bench. In the 3-3 draw with Spain at Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu three days later, he picked the same trio, with Endrick again scoring as a substitute.

This month, Brazil started with a much-changed reserve team in their 3-2 win over Mexico in Texas, with subs Vinícius and Endrick combining for an added-time winner. And in the 1-1 draw with the United States on June 12, a similar starting 11 to the one that might kick off against Costa Rica included Vinícius at center-forward, with Rodrygo playing off him.

Vinícius had six shots against the U.S. -- three early in the match and three late on, the best of them in added time -- but was unable to beat goalkeeper Matt Turner. He has not scored for Brazil since last June, a drought he will be desperate to end at this tournament.

Neymar says Vinícius deserves it for his club achievements. So do two more Brazil national team legends, Ronaldo Nazario and Rivaldo. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti thinks there's a case to be made, if Vinícius delivers at the Copa América. Even club teammate Jude Bellingham -- a Ballon d'Or rival if England excels at Euro 2024 -- joked that the two of them can share the prize if they must.

 But in 2024 with two major summer tournaments, it's hard to imagine a Ballon d'Or winner without a defining moment at the international level.

If Vinícius wants to take the next step and have his on-field greatness recognized beyond La Liga and Real Madrid, he needs to take a leading role for Brazil. A vacancy is there to be filled.