Brazilian media hail Cunha as Selecao's future after brace sinks Haiti at World Cup

Matheus Cunha announced himself on the World Cup stage with a two-goal performance as Brazil defeated Haiti 3-0 in Philadelphia on Saturday, prompting widespread acclaim from the Brazilian press for the Manchester United forward.

Cunha, 27, was handed his first World Cup start by Carlo Ancelotti after Brazil had been held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their opening group game. Facing a Haiti side ranked 87th in the world, he wasted little time making his mark, opening the scoring in the 23rd minute before doubling Brazil’s lead in the 36th. Vinicius Junior added a third in first-half stoppage time, and the second half was managed comfortably as the five-time champions secured their first win of the tournament.

Brazilian outlet Correio Braziliense was effusive in its praise, crediting Ancelotti for the decision to bring Cunha in ahead of Brentford’s Igor Thiago, who had led the line against Morocco. “The Italian has crossed the Atlantic and transformed the 27-year-old from Paraiba into one of the key players for the national team,” the publication wrote. It noted that the brace made Cunha the 15th different player to score under Ancelotti’s management of the Selecao, and drew a direct comparison with Richarlison’s famous double against Serbia at the 2022 World Cup.

The report also highlighted what makes Cunha a distinctive option at centre-forward: “Although he wears the No. 9 shirt, he is far from being a classic centre forward. He leaves the area, participates in the build-up play and brings the different sectors closer together.”

O Globo asked its writers to name Brazil’s best player on the night, and Cunha emerged as a popular choice alongside Vinicius Junior. One columnist wrote: “He came into the team and did everything that was expected of him after a great season with Manchester United. He helped to give fluidity and movement to the attack. He clicked with Vini and showed opportunism.”

The consensus across Brazilian media was that Cunha has firmly established himself as central to Ancelotti’s plans, with several outlets describing him as both the present and the future of the national team’s attack. Brazil will look to build on this result as the group stage continues.