Matheus Cunha had a standout debut season at Manchester United but his second campaign at Old Trafford could be spent in a different position.
After his £62.5m move from Wolves, Matheus Cunha arrived at Manchester United and scored 10 goals in his debut season.
Cunha played as a left winger/left forward under both Ruben Amorim and then Michael Carrick, first in a 3-4-2-1 formation and now in a 4-2-3-1 shape.
Now at the 2026 World Cup, Cunha was given the No.9 shirt for Brazil and he has been standing out as a centre-forward.
Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko become second ever PL trio to score 10+ goals in debut season🔥
What an incredible achievement, how many goals should they each be aiming for in 2026/27?
Matheus Cunha is a world-class centre-forward
United knew about Cunha’s versatility when he was signed from Wolves. In his first season, he played on the left, right and through the middle.
Cunha scored a brace for Brazil against Haiti and then scored in the 3-0 win over Scotland. In two starts, he has three World Cup goals.
Carlo Ancelotti has used Cunha as a centre-forward for Brazil, and the 26-year-old has been one of the best strikers in the whole tournament.
Carrick has made it clear that United want a new left winger this summer, while the search for a new striker has taken a back seat.
That could indicate that United are happy to shift Cunha to be a centre-forward option alongside Benjamin Sesko, as well as his usual left-sided duties.
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The numbers behind Matheus Cunha’s centre-forward display
Cunha’s latest masterclass for Brazil came in their win against Scotland, which guaranteed that his nation finished top of Group C.
He played 76 minutes of the match, with his goal coming exactly on the hour mark.
As per SofaScore, Cunha earned a 7.8 rating for his display, ranking him as one of Brazil’s best players.
- 38 touches
- 100% dribbles (2/2)
- 92% pass accuracy (24/26)
- 5 shots, 2 on target
- 1 key pass
- 4 defensive contributions
- 100% duel success rate
READ MORE: Harry Maguire reveals what Matheus Cunha is really like after Man Utd ace scores brace for Brazil
Cunha was flawless in and out of possession, contributing offensively with five shots and one goal, creating chances for his teammates with one key pass, and defending sharply with a perfect duel rate.
If Carrick was watching closely, United fans may see more of Cunha in a central role in 2026/27.
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