With Vinicius Jr out of the Brazil lineup, wayward Rodrygo must find his shooting boots in Copa America

Watch Rodrygo, and you will see an interesting player. The diminutive Brazilian is a rare breed of Selecao star. He has the close control of many of his Samba predecessors but is more natural creator than lethal finisher. He made it clear in an interview last year that he doesn't really regard himself as a goalscorer - instead a provider for more direct strikers in an attack.

The issue is, thus far in his Brazil career, he hasn't really been able to do either. In 26 Brazil caps, Rodrygo has six goals and one assist to his name. Only three of his goals have come in competitive matches - both thrashings of inferior opponents.

Admittedly, it has been difficult for the winger to find a foot hold in the side. Only 15 of his 26 caps have been starts, while positional continuity has also been elusive. Rodrygo plays as a right-winger for Real Madrid, but can also function as a central striker if needed. In Brazil colors, his exact spot has fluctuated.

Sometimes, he has been used as a right-winger. Others, he plays through the middle. And no matter where he starts any given contest, there has always the prevailing sense that he will have to play off either Neymar or Vinicius - relegating this immense talent to a rather peripheral role, with no consistent spot to operate in.

Things started to look up in March. With Neymar out of the national team picture after rupturing his ACL at the end of 2023, Rodrygo was handed a more consistent role in the side - asked to play through the middle in a three-forward setup. Rodrygo was immensely effective in the Selecao's frantic 3-3 friendly draw with Spain in the spring, scoring once and proving crucial in setting up another to mark a sparkling performance.

He was at it again in June, playing a crucial role against the United States in a dramatic 1-1 friendly. He opened the scoring with a clinical finish and came close on a number of other occasions - only to be denied by a fine goalkeeping performance from Matt Turner. There was reason for hope.

Those showings in a Brazil shirt, more broadly, served as a welcome extension of Rodrygo's improvement for his club. The winger struggled to find a role under Carlo Ancelotti at Madrid. For a while, he was a bit part player, an effective substitute - but little more. Last season, though, he became a crucial part of Los Blancos' attack.

Ancelotti, ever the tactical guru, came up with a unique system to account for an unbalanced squad. But realizing Rodrygo's potential to create off the dribble and finish in tight areas, the manager deployed him as a striker alongside Vinicius - with Jude Bellingham tucked behind the duo.

It required a slight change in role. Rodrygo had less room in which to operate, and couldn't scamper into acres of turf on the wing like he did during his early days in Madrid. But it did also put him closer to the goal - with the ball at his feet - more than ever. The result was his finest goalscoring return in a Madrid shirt to date, with the Brazilian scoring 18 in all competitions as Los Blancos secured a domestic-European double.

He may not be an elite finisher - or consider himself one - but Rodrygo can certainly find the back of the net.

For some time, Rodrygo's inconsistency in front of goal mattered little. With Neymar to shoulder the load, and Vinicius to back him up and plug the holes between, anything material Rodrygo could provide was merely a bonus.

Now, though, things have changed. Vinicius' yellow leaves Brazil with a gaping hole to fill in their attack. The Selecao have struggled to find the back of the net in Copa America. They were blanked by Costa Rica in the first game, and although they came alive against a dire Paraguay side, their drab 1-1 draw with Colombia - in which they managed just three shots on target - is more indicative of their limited attack. And it might just get more difficult. Vinicius is out, Raphinha is yet to convince and Endrick is admittedly still raw.

Rodrygo, then, needs to find his groove.

For the Brazilian, it starts with getting more involved in play. It's not just that he has failed to find the net; Rodrygo hasn't seen the ball enough to make an impact. Some forwards - Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Robert Lewandowski, among others - can feed off scraps and bury the one chance they get. Rodrygo is different. This is a player who needs to be constantly on the ball. Against Colombia, he managed just 29 touches, and didn't register a shot. He was removed after 73 frustrating minutes.

That has to change against Uruguay. But it would also present a tactical conundrum. if Rodrygo wants to be on the ball more, he will have to drift from a central positon, leaving the Selecao without a central outlet in a game in which they may have to rely on singular moments - the clinical nature of a ruthless player in the box. And therein lies the paradox of Rodrygo. He needs to find the net more, and he's good at it. But he can't do so like a traditional striker. Ask him to hold a position, and he is misused.

Dorival Jr may have to be creative. One option is to move Endrick - rumored to be starting - into a central position. He could then deploy Rodrygo on the wing, and let him thrive in the one-on-one situations where he has done the most damage for his club. Yet that might leave Endrick, not a clinical No. 9 himself, isolated through the middle.

Ultimately, then, Rodrygo will have to provide a moment of magic, turn in a virtuosic performance, and make things happen in the few chances he will get. It's the only way Brazil can advance and keep their Copa America 2024 dream alive.