Coach Carlo Ancelotti announced the official list of 26 players who will represent Seleção Brasileira in Copa of Mundo in 2026. Striker Matheus Cunha, currently in Manchester United, is among the names chosen to join the national team’s offensive system. The document was released late this Monday afternoon. The athlete has participated in every call-up since the beginning of the Italian coach’s work in charge of the team. The constant presence in the previous lists indicated the consolidation of the player’s space in the main group.
The 26-year-old from Paraíba is reaching the most stable moment of his career in European football. The transfer to Manchester United, completed in July 2025, marked a leap forward in his professional career. The consistent performance in the Campeonato Inglês guaranteed the unrestricted confidence of the coaching staff for the most important tournament on the sporting calendar. The player arrives at Mundial boasting impressive numbers accumulated during the last few seasons played in the sport’s elite.
Caminho traveled from the grassroots to the European elite
Nascido in João Pessoa, in Paraíba, on May 27, 1999, Matheus Santos Carneiro of Cunha began his relationship with the sport on the futsal courts. The transition to the pitch took place in the Coritiba youth categories. The talent demonstrated at the Paraná club caught the attention of international scouts even before a long run with the professional team. Aos 18 years old, the athlete packed his bags for Suíça. Ele signed a contract with Sion and began his adaptation to the European style of play.
In Swiss football, the striker demonstrated versatility and the ability to play in different areas of the field. The performance yielded a fast transfer to the RB Leipzig. The move marked the beginning of his Campeonato Alemão journey. His time at Bundesliga also included defending the colors of Hertha Berlim. In the team from the German capital, he took on the role of center forward more frequently and improved his positioning within the penalty area.
The next step took the Brazilian to Campeonato Espanhol to join Atlético’s Madrid squad. Experience in high-level continental competitions added tactical maturity to his game. In January 2023, Wolverhampton Wanderers bet on hiring him for the Premier League dispute. Inicialmente loaned out, the player took on the team’s offensive role. The 2024/25 season saw 15 goals scored in the English league. Manchester United completed the purchase in June 2025, offering a five-year contract and the number 10 shirt to the Brazilian.
Atributos physicality and versatility in the offensive sector
Standing 1.83 meters tall and weighing 76 kilos, the athlete has a physical profile suitable for the demands of intense leagues. The height allows for efficient disputes in aerial plays. Physical strength helps protect the ball against opposing defenders. The right foot is your main tool for submissions. The use of the left leg also presents a high rate of accuracy in short-distance shots.
The Manchester United coaching staff explores the player’s ability to act both centrally and on the edges of the field. The muscular explosion in quick transitions makes it easier to break defensive lines. The athlete carries the ball at speed with control close to the body. Ele can finish from medium and long distances efficiently. Técnicos highlight the Brazilian’s ease in executing dribbles in progression.
Além’s offensive characteristics, tactical commitment without the ball receives constant positive reviews. The attacker actively participates in the first marking line. Ele pressures the opponent’s ball during the ninety minutes. The vision of the game improved over the years results in a significant number of assists. The complete repertoire justifies the title in one of Inglaterra’s most traditional clubs.
Histórico victorious with the national team shirt
The player’s relationship with the national team began to bear fruit in the Confederação Brasileira and Futebol training categories. The attacker finished the 2019 Torneio of Toulon as absolute top scorer. Ele repeated the offensive highlight during the Pré-Olímpico Sul-Americano dispute. The culmination of this basic cycle occurred in the Jogos Olímpicos and Tóquio, held in 2021. In the competition hosted by the Japão, the athlete scored three essential goals to win the gold medal.
His debut for the main team took place in September of the same year. The transition process to the adult cast occurred gradually. The arrival of Carlo Ancelotti as coach intensified the player’s use in qualifying matches and friendlies. The Italian coach values players that offer tactical variations without the need for substitutions during the game.
- Artilharia in Torneio of Toulon in 2019 with the base team.
- Destaque offensive in the Pré-Olímpico Sul-Americano campaign.
- Gold Medal Conquista in Tóquio’s Jogos Olímpicos.
- Estreia in the consolidated main selection in September 2021.
The constant presence on the call-up lists demonstrates the alignment between the athlete’s characteristics and the game model implemented. Aos 26 years old, the attacker reaches the peak of his physical form exactly at the time of the Mundial dispute. The experience accumulated in three of the main European leagues provides the necessary knowledge to face defenders from rival teams. The player maintains ties with João Pessoa and Recife, cities where he spent his childhood.
Cronograma preparing for the world tournament
The group of 26 players called up will begin the training phase in the coming weeks. The highest governing body of Brazilian football has structured a calendar of preparatory friendlies before the final trip to the competition’s headquarters. Matheus Cunha is part of the delegation that presents itself for medical examinations and initial physical assessments. The technical committee monitors the wear and tear of athletes who work abroad.
The medical department adjusts workloads on an individual basis to avoid muscle injuries. The attacker arrives at the concentration period with a high pace of play. The sequence of matches played by Campeonato Inglês and national cups ensured that he maintained his ideal physical shape. The Copa of the 2026 Mundo is scheduled to begin in June. The squad mixes players with experience in previous editions of the tournament and newcomers to the competition.
The activity routine includes tactical sessions on a small field. The training aims to consolidate the coordination of the offensive sector. The group has different formation options for the attack. Daily work defines the starting team that will take the field in the first round of the group stage. The athlete follows the schedule established by physical preparation alongside the other teammates.