Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha has insisted he is not chasing individual recognition with Brazil, even though his club form is cementing his position ahead of the World Cup.
The Brazilian spoke ahead of the friendly against Croatia, making it clear that his priorities with the national team differ from those expected of attacking players.
“I’m not looking for headlines,” Cunha said espn brazil. “When we wear this shirt, it’s about more than being remembered. It’s about being part of a winning group, like so many before us.”
This stance offers an interesting contrast to his situation at Manchester United, where he has been one of the key attacking figures during the club’s recent rise under Michael Carrick.
Club form versus international reality
Cunha’s performances in England have been consistently good. He recently spoke about his spell at Manchester United Interview for a Brazilian channel. However, he acknowledged that translating that form to Brazil is not always easy.
“We want to come here and give it our all.” he explained. “People who have been here a long time understand things faster, they know what the manager wants. But we still need some adaptation.”
That adjustment period is already visible. Cunha started in Brazil’s recent 2–1 defeat to France but did not register a goal contribution.
Nevertheless, the forward rejected any suggestion that the result had affected confidence within the team.
“Nothing has changed in our confidence,” He said. “We all have the same idea of what we want, which is to win the World Cup.”
Keeping perspective ahead of the World Cup
For Cunha, the level of opposition in recent matches is part of the process.
“France and Croatia are two top level national teams,” He said. “Usually we don’t have that much experience in these games, so it’s great to get this opportunity.”
He also pointed to the difference in preparation time as a factor in maintaining trust in the group.
“They had more time to prepare, but we felt we could have won,” Cunha added. “Even in defeat, it shows we’re on the right track.”
That mindset matches the approach he mentioned earlier. Individual performances may shape perception, but Cunha’s focus remains elsewhere.
This could be a positive sign for Manchester United. A player who is less concerned with individual headlines and more focused on collective success fits well within a team striving for long-term stability.
As Cunha said, the aim is simple – to contribute to something bigger than yourself, whether at Old Trafford or on the international stage.
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⬆️ Priority is to remain in the top league https://t.co/8tFRKFb605 #avfc #nufc #free– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 31 March 2026
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