Brazil’s former Bundesliga professional Matheus Cunha was long labeled as a talent without consistency. His time in the national team was also slow – until things finally broke in the World Cup game against Haiti.
Anyone who has already generated more than 190 million euros in transfer fees at the age of 27 cannot have done so much wrong in their professional football career. Matheus Cunha can boast this number – but labels such as “world class” or “difference player” have not yet been attached to the offensive player.
After Brazil’s 3-0 win against Haiti, this is likely to slowly but surely change. Cunha was the key man on the pitch alongside Vini Jr. during the Selecao’s first success at this World Cup. His double strike in the 23rd and 36th minutes paved the way for Brazil to a success that was ultimately never in danger, even before the break. For the opening goal, Cunha benefited from a failed attempt to clear the ball by Haitian defender Hannes Delcroix, and at 2-0 he demonstrated his class with a dry finish into the left corner.
First the surfer cheers, then the kissing hands
After the final whistle, Cunha hardly knew what had happened to him. While he had celebrated his goals with his teammates in surfer style during the game, after the final whistle he repeatedly blew kisses towards his family in the stands, waved and formed a heart with his hands and was visibly relieved. “Scoring goals at a World Cup and helping my team is everything I’ve ever dreamed of” he said afterwards.
Until this game, the Manchester United professional had only scored one goal in 24 games for Brazil. In March 2025 he scored in the World Cup qualifier against arch-rivals Argentina to make it 1-2. The game was ultimately lost 4-1 – and Cunha’s debut goal faded into the background. The fact that he became the first Brazilian to score a brace at the World Cup since Richarlison, who scored twice against Serbia in Qatar four years ago, fits in well with the late success story of Cunha and the Selecao.
RBL, Hertha, Athletico – Cunha’s career with detours
In 2022 he was only able to watch the World Cup as a spectator, which also had to do with his not always straightforward club career: when he was just 19 years old, Cunha moved to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga with great praise – and an already impressive price tag of 15 million euros at the time. But neither under Ralf Rangnick nor Julian Nagelsmann did he achieve a lasting breakthrough there: he only scored two goals in 35 Bundesliga games. Nevertheless, Hertha BSC was prepared to pay 18 million euros for him. Things went much better for Cunha in Berlin: 21 goals in 39 games speak for themselves.
Disappointment after the game for Matheus Cunha
Nevertheless, he remained a player between worlds. His class shone again and again, but at the same time he was accused of tactical indiscipline and erratic performance. The then Hertha coach Pal Dardai once even asked himself how Cunha managed to get so caught up in the middle of the game.Walk mode” to switch.
His nimble, technically strong style of play nevertheless attracted attention from top international clubs. Atletico Madrid put 35 million euros on the table, but Cunha was never really happy under coach Diego Simeone. In Spain he experienced the most difficult phase of his career. When his World Cup dream finally shattered in 2022, he “really very bad“felt and”suffered greatly“Cunha admitted last year.
Cunha is thriving in the Premier League
Only the move to the Premier League to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2023 brought about a turning point. There the joy of football was given back to him. “Sometimes in life we just want appreciation” he told the Guardian.
Cunha has been playing for Manchester United since last year – and this time he was able to justify the increased transfer fee of up to 74 million euros with his performances on the pitch. With ten goals and four assists, he played a key role in ensuring that the Premier League club, which had been in trouble in recent years, ended up in third place at the end of the season and qualified for the Champions League.
Ancelotti is also relying on Cunha against Scotland
Cunha seamlessly took his form with him to the national team. There, too, he is now shown the appreciation that he has missed for so long and that he obviously needs in order to fully exploit his strengths as a left winger.
Carlo Ancelotti gave him exactly this trust by naming him the starting eleven and has already announced that he would also play in the third group game against Scotland on Thursday (00:00 CEST).”naturally“will start again in the storm center.
When Cunha was substituted by Ancelotti after 64 minutes, the fans celebrated him loudly. And when he saw his family’s tear-filled eyes after the final whistle, he was simple “very grateful”. It seems as if Matheus Cunha has finally found happiness.
Source: with material from sid