Matheus Cunha announced himself in style at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring twice on his first start for Brazil as the Seleção cruised to a convincing 3-0 victory over Haiti.
After Brazil’s disappointing 1-1 draw against Morocco in their opening Group C match, head coach Carlo Ancelotti opted to hand Cunha a place in the starting lineup. The decision paid immediate dividends as the Manchester United forward produced a clinical performance that helped Brazil secure their first win of the tournament.
Cunha opened the scoring with a composed finish before adding a second goal later in the first half, with both strikes brilliantly created by Vinicius Junior. The Real Madrid winger capped his own impressive display by finding the net himself before halftime, completing a dominant first-half performance by the five-time world champions.
The Brazilian attack looked far more fluid and dangerous with Cunha leading the line, and his movement, energy, and finishing ability provided exactly the spark Brazil needed after facing criticism following their opening draw.
Beyond the goals, Cunha’s performance highlighted his growing importance to Ancelotti’s plans. The 27-year-old forward made a strong case to retain his place in the starting XI as Brazil look to challenge for a sixth World Cup title.
The victory lifted Brazil to the top of Group C and significantly boosted their chances of progressing to the knockout stage. For Haiti, however, the defeat ended their hopes of advancing in the competition.
On a night when Brazil needed a statement performance, Matheus Cunha delivered one of his own. His two-goal display on his first World Cup start will be remembered as the moment he truly arrived on football’s biggest stage.
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