Matheus Cunha Just Did Something Brazil Has Been Waiting Years to See

Matheus Cunha walked off the pitch in Orlando with a match ball under his arm and a grin that said everything. Two goals against Haiti in a 3-0 World Cup win. Not exactly a shock result, but the way he played? That part matters.

Starting up top for a Brazil team that’s been searching for a reliable No. 9 since roughly forever, Cunha looked like someone who actually wanted the job. He scored in the 23rd minute after Vinicius Junior carved through Haiti’s defense like a hot knife through butter. Then he banged a left-footed shot into the top corner before halftime. Johny Placide had no chance on either one. According to L’Equipe, even Ronaldo — the original Ronaldo — was smiling from the stands after that second goal.

That’s the kind of seal of approval that makes you sit up a little straighter.

Cunha has 25 caps now and three goals total. Not a great scoring rate on paper, but context matters. He’s not really a striker for Manchester United. He plays deeper, wider, whatever the game needs. Premier League numbers this season: 10 goals, 4 assists in 34 games. Solid but not world-beating. Still, there’s something about him in a Brazil shirt that’s starting to click.

Movement matters more than goals sometimes

Morocco held Brazil to a 1-1 draw in the warmup, and Igor Thiago couldn’t connect anything up front. That was the worry going into this game. Enter Cunha, whose movement kept pulling defenders out of position and created space for everyone else. He recovered five balls — second only to Lucas Paqueta’s nine — which tells you he wasn’t just waiting for service. He was working.

Vinicius joked after the match that Cunha barely ever plays as a No. 9 but somehow scores when he does. What’s interesting is that Carlo Ancelotti apparently told him to operate between Haiti’s two center-backs. That’s specific tactical direction for a guy who usually drops deep to get involved.

Cunha himself said he doesn’t see his game as an out-and-out striker’s. He’s probably right. But Brazil doesn’t need him to be Ederson or Romario or whoever. They need someone who can link the midfield to the attack and finish when chances come. That’s what he did against Haiti.

One former Lyon player came on in the 65th minute and thought he had a goal later, but it got ruled out for offside. Cunha looked genuinely disappointed for him, which says something about the group dynamic. Vinicius finished the game off with a solo run late, highlight-reel stuff that sealed a comfortable win.

Brazil’s automatisms are still a work in progress — limited preparation time, new faces, Ancelotti trying to figure out his best setup. But Cunha’s performance gave them something concrete to build around. Maybe not a long-term solution. Maybe just a tournament one. For a team that’s been spinning its wheels at center-forward, that alone is progress worth noting.