Manchester United fans might have been shocked when Matheus Cunha was named on the bench for Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco.
Matheus Cunha enjoyed a wonderful debut season with Manchester United in 2025/26 and he was then handed the No.9 shirt for Brazil after being called up into their World Cup squad.
However, for Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Morocco in their opening group stage game, Cunha was only named on the bench.
It was Brentford’s Igor Thiago who was picked to start up front, with Cunha limited to a 30-minute substitute appearance.
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Why Matheus Cunha was benched for Brazil
This is Cunha’s first World Cup campaign with Brazil, but many expected the 26-year-old to play a key role in Ancelotti’s side.
The Brazil manager was asked about his striker selection, and he explained why Thiago started ahead of Cunha against Morocco.
As per Brazilian outlet Veja, Ancelotti said: “For this game, Igor is strong up front, he’s aggressive, he can fight for the ball in the air. I believe Igor can be good for the team in this game.
“It’s the small details that determine which player is chosen.”
It seems Cunha’s lack of an aerial threat is the reason he didn’t start for Brazil, but Ancelotti may be regretting his decision.
What is your verdict on Matheus Cunha’s debut season for Man United?
Matheus Cunha earned a starting spot for Brazil
Ancelotti clearly preferred Thiago to lead the line for Brazil, but the 24-year-old was extremely disappointing.
Flanked by world-class talents like Vinicius Junior and Raphinha, Thiago offered almost no link-up play with his Brazilian teammates.
Ancelotti’s intention was for Thiago to be a target man, but he managed just one shot on target and missed one big chance.
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As per SofaScore, Thiago earned a 6.2 rating for his performance. In contrast, Cunha earned a 6.8 in his short but sweet cameo.
Brazilian media praised Cunha and argued that he deserves more minutes. With a match against Haiti up next, the United No.10 deserves to start.
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