Matheus Cunha offers Brazil a striker solution, but injury may open up youngster’s path

After a stuttering start against Morocco, Brazil have finally got their World Cup party started. A 3-0 win over Haiti was just what the doctor ordered after an unconvincing and unbalanced performance in their opening game , and while the usual suspects were at the heart of things for the Selecao , it was a makeshift solution that unlocked their opposition. Matheus Cunha, most often used as a winger at club level by Manchester United, was chosen to lead the line in Philadelphia, and while Raphinha and Vinicius Jr led the show early on, it was the 27-year-old who opened the scoring, dropping deep to create the opening and managing to bundle it in via the help of Haiti defender Hannes Delcroix. The winger-turned-striker soon had his second too, making a clever run in behind an admittedly lacklustre Haitian defence before rifling in a superb finish to effectively end the game. Cunha produced a superb finish with his weaker foot to give Brazil a second goal (Getty) Brazil were two ahead without having to enter second gear, and they soon added a third as Vini Jr raced clear to latch onto Lucas Paqueta’s through ball and slide in a neat finish. For Cunha – who had been left on the bench for the opener against Morocco – it was a solid audition as he made his claim to Brazil’s number nine spot, with his movement helping his teammates and giving both star wingers more space to operate in. Nevertheless, this was a game against one of the lowest-ranked teams in the competition, and his goals were just his second and third in the famous Selecao shirt despite frequently being used as a striker in the past. While he’s proved his ability to finish difficult chances when playing for his club side, we haven’t had enough evidence as to whether Cunha can function as a striker at the top level while giving the team what they need from a number nine. Could he provide more of a classic number nine performance, or offer an outlet when Brazil face a better side? Cunha, Vini Jr. and Raphinha dovetailed well as Brazil's attack ran rings around the Haiti defence (Reuters) Those questions remain unanswered but this performance was a step in the right direction, though tougher tests are just around the corner, from Scotland in their final group game to a last-32 tie against the likes of Japan. And in any case, the idea that the Selecao might have found their answer to their striker problem might have to be shelved for now. An injury to Raphinha – who was forced off with a suspected hamstring issue before the end of the first half – means Cunha may find that his time at striker is short-lived. Interestingly, Ancelotti declined to claim he’d found a solution to the striker issue in his post-match conference, preferring to keep his cards close to his chest. Ancelotti suggested that Raphinha came off due to tightness in his hamstring, but if the Barcelona man is ruled out for any bigger games, then Ancelotti might be forced to use Cunha on the right wing over the likes of Gabriel Martinelli or Rayan. If this is the case, it could open up the chance for a fan favourite to take his place up front. Real Madrid striker Endrick, who ended last season on loan at Lyon, is a popular striker choice with the Selecao faithful, with the biggest cheer of the day reserved for when the 19-year-old took Cunha’s place, and again when his name was read by the stadium announcer. Endrick had his own well-taken effort ruled out for offside after coming on (Reuters) Many fans have wanted to see more of a player branded an “extraordinary talent” by Ancelotti, but he has found opportunities hard to come by since the Italian took over, missing out on the squad for the last four friendlies of 2025 before being given 14 minutes in the win over Croatia and 45 minutes against both Panama and Egypt in the warm-up friendlies. A tally of five goals in 16 Ligue 1 appearances does not appear enough for Ancelotti to pin his hopes on Endrick, and indeed he did not feature off the bench in the draw to Morocco. There are high hopes for the youngster, but the current Brazil manager is surely one of the best-placed figures in world football to tell whether he is ready for the pressure that being a figurehead of the Selecao puts on a player. However, there were flashes of his ability when he came on in Philadelphia, a good run and well-taken finish eventually flagged for offside but also offering a glimpse of what the 19-year-old could offer as an alternative to Cunha or Igor Thiago. At present, the youngster makes an interesting proposition for the number nine position, not least because of the injury to Raphinha. Indeed, Ancelotti himself has previously stated he will “bring Endrick on at the right moment”, adding that “he'll be important in this World Cup”. The Italian is still tinkering with his side as he looks to find the right formula, but with plenty of uncertainty still in the Brazilian camp, perhaps Endrick’s ‘moment’ will come sooner rather than later.