Matheus Cunha offers a solution for Brazil's attack, but injury could pave the way for the youngster


After a shaky start against Morocco, Brazil finally kicked off their World Cup celebration. A 3-0 victory over Haiti was exactly what the Seleção needed after an unconvincing and unbalanced performance in the opening game. Although the best-known names led the action, it was an improvised solution that unlocked the opposing defense. Matheus Cunha, normally used as a winger by Manchester United, was selected to command the attack in Philadelphia. While Raphinha and Vinicius Jr. shone early on, the 27-year-old opened the scoring, dropping back to create the play and managing to score with the help of Haitian defender Hannes Delcroix. The "winger-turned-striker" soon scored his second goal, making an intelligent run behind a Haitian defense that was far from efficient, and left his mark with a beautiful shot, practically deciding the match. With that, Brazil were 2-0 ahead without needing to speed up the game, and soon added a third goal when Vini Jr. darted to take advantage of a pass from Lucas Paquetá and slide in a precise finish. For Cunha, who had started on the bench against Morocco, it was a good opportunity to show that he deserves the number 9 shirt, as his positioning helped create more space for his attacking teammates. However, it is important to remember that this game was against one of the lowest ranked teams in the tournament, and his goals were only the second and third with the famous Seleção shirt, despite having already been used as a striker on other occasions. Although he has shown the ability to finish difficult chances for his club, we still don't have enough evidence to say that Cunha can act as a high-level striker, fulfilling what the team needs from a number 9. Could he offer a classic striker's performance, or be an option when Brazil face a stronger opponent? Those questions remain unanswered, but his performance was a step in the right direction, with tougher challenges ahead, such as a duel against Scotland in the final group game and a possible knockout clash against a team like Japan. Furthermore, the idea that the Seleção may have found the solution to the striker problem can be postponed for now. An injury to Raphinha, who was substituted late in the first half with a suspected thigh injury, could mean that Cunha's spell as a striker will be shorter than expected. Interestingly, Ancelotti avoided stating that he had found the solution to the attacking issue in his post-match press conference, preferring to keep his options secret. The coach commented that Raphinha left due to discomfort in his thigh, but if the Barcelona player is ruled out for more important games, Ancelotti may be forced to use Cunha on the right wing instead of opting for Gabriel Martinelli or Rayan. If that happens, it could open up the chance for one of the fans' favorites to take over the center forward position. Real Madrid striker Endrick, who finished last season on loan at Lyon, is a popular choice among Seleção fans, and the biggest applause of the day was reserved for when the 19-year-old came on for Cunha, and again when his name was announced at the stadium. Many fans want to see more of the player whoAncelotti called him an "extraordinary talent" but he has found it difficult to gain ground since the Italian took over, not being called up for the last four friendlies of 2025, before playing 14 minutes in the win over Croatia and 45 minutes against Panama and Egypt in the preparatory friendlies. A total of five goals in 16 Ligue 1 matches appears not to be enough for Ancelotti to trust his expectations to Endrick, who was also not an option in the draw against Morocco. There are high hopes for the youngster, but Brazil's current coach is, without a doubt, one of the best qualified to assess whether he is ready for the pressure that being a central figure in the national team places on a player. However, there were glimpses of his ability when he took to the field in Philadelphia, with a good run and a well-executed goal that was eventually disallowed for offside, but which showed some of what the 19-year-old can offer as an alternative to Cunha or Igor Thiago. Currently, the boy presents himself as an interesting proposal for the number 9 position, especially due to Raphinha's injury. Ancelotti has previously stated that he will "bring Endrick in at the right time", adding that "he will be important in this World Cup". The Italian continues to experiment with his team in the search for the ideal formula, but with a lot of uncertainty still present in the Brazilian group, perhaps Endrick's 'moment' will come sooner than one imagines.