A year to the day that Matheus Cunha was officially confirmed as a Red, the 27-year-old is preparing for Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco.
He enters the tournament in fine form, having played a pivotal role in a new-look frontline that helped Manchester United finish third in the Premier League.
Cunha became Ruben Amorim’s first summer signing in a £62.5 million deal, penning a five-year contract with an option for another after a successful spell with Wolves.
Although some questioned his ability to shoulder the weight of expectation at Old Trafford, the Brazilian overcame a tricky start to cement his importance in the squad.
Today, he is regarded as an elite ball-carrier with invaluable transitional qualities, often proving the difference for Michael Carrick’s team, whether out wide or through the centre.
His 10 goals and four assists paint only a fraction of his debut picture, and ahead of a return to Champions League football, the former Atleti man can solidify himself as a starring European character.
Matheus Cunha is at home in a Manchester United attack
While Bryan Mbeumo began his Manchester journey with four goals in his opening nine fixtures, Cunha had struggled to find his feet in the final third.
There is more to an attacker than contributions in the modern game, but the burden of securing your first is an undesirable one.
Nonetheless, with every passing week, he persevered in his admirable commitment, routinely reminding the Stretford End of his joy at representing the club with that unmistakable smile.
Matheus may not have been finding the net as often as he’d like, but his ability to alleviate pressure or turn defence to attack in a heartbeat was remarkable.
Inevitably, he scored in a 4-2 victory against Brighton in gameweek nine, setting the tone for freedom in red, fuelled by an abundance of South American grace.
Matheus Cunha Premier League metrics via Datamb.football
Say what you will about that challenging start to life at M16, but the Joao Pessoa native thrived in 2026.
Before even factoring in his work rate, Cunha notched seven goals and three assists from 17 Premier League appearances since January.
What’s more, many of these surfaced during critical moments, with seamless rotations across the frontline a trademark of his game.
He hit the opener in a 3-2 win against Liverpool, and supplied the telling blow in victories at Stamford Bridge and the Emirates, with the latter providing one of the moments of the season.
Impressively, he overachieved his season xG (expected goals) by three, and ranked in the 12th percentile for non-penalty goals, underscoring his technical quality.
All the while, the one-time Leipzig star has been a mainstay in Carlo Ancelotti’s side, one that could surprise a few people this summer with the United man spearheading the line.
But there is so much more to Cunha than goalscoring, and his tenacity is only equalled by his dedication out of possession.
He averaged 3.8 ball recoveries per Premier League outing, with 1.2 tackles and 0.8 possessions won in the final third.
Furthermore, his progressive carries, arguably his greatest weapon, measure in the 82nd percentile across Europe’s top five divisions, and his footballing intelligence is recognised far and wide.
“For me, it’s how he understands the game now,” Brazil legend Kaka told Rio Ferdinand. “He’s working really hard tactically. Sometimes, he does the work, the dirty work, to help the defenders and the defensive system. Also, he can use his creativity.
“He can bring his Brazilian style to improve and do something really different during the game. The way that he understands that he needs to work for the team, I think that’s it.”
Few will argue that his debut campaign was perfect, and Matheus would likely agree. Still, he found his feet quicker than most and grew stronger as the weeks went by.
We are but scratching the surface of what this star is capable of, and while Carrick and co continue to work towards a tailored midfield pursuit this summer, Cunha is ready and waiting to aid their transition.
With Benjamin Sesko and Mbeumo offering a complementary partnership, the United faithful can rest easy with their dynamic forward.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments or across our social channels–photo by operations@newsimages.co.uk via depositphotos.com.
Statistics available at DataMb and SofaScore.
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