Brazilian media have lavished praise on Matheus Cunha following the Manchester United forward's display against Scotland. Cunha played 75 minutes of Brazil's 3-0 World Cup 2026 win on Wednesday night, a result which confirmed Brazil's position at the top of Group C heading into the knockout rounds.
Cunha's goal and performance
The 27-year-old made his mark by netting the Selecao's third of the evening - his third goal of the tournament as he continues to catch the eye. The Red Devils star demonstrated superb link-up play throughout. He also saw an effort cleared off the line by Lewis Ferguson before calmly slotting beyond the goalkeeper on the hour mark after Bruno Guimaraes unselfishly picked him out.
Battle with Scott McTominay
He appeared to relish leading the attack, going up against former United midfielder Scott McTominay in the process. After an uneventful opening 45 minutes, McTominay emerged as Scotland's most dangerous player. He won three duels and registered three shots on target, including a header that Alisson Becker scrambled to keep out and a poked effort from a recycled corner that the goalkeeper held.
Brazilian media reaction
Cunha was showered with praise by the Brazilian press, having captured the hearts of fans back home. Brazilian publication Veja described him as an "intelligent player" who is "well-positioned" always, lauding him for scoring his third goal at this World Cup. GE Globo gave him a match rating of 7.5/10, which is particularly generous by their standards, writing: "He started scoring again and was important in other ways. He was very combative without the ball and helped in the build-up play, dropping back a little to provide passing options and act as a target man. Brazil's second goal came after he recovered the ball with a sliding tackle at the edge of the penalty area." ESPN Brasil rated him 6.5/10, noting that, despite his goals, his off-the-ball contribution is even more valuable, as he plays a crucial role in keeping the team's tactical shape intact.
What's next for Brazil
Cunha and Brazil will next face the runner-up of Group F in the new Round of 32, which could be Japan, the Netherlands or Sweden, with the group still very much up for grabs.
