Matheus Cunha Joins Ronaldo and Oscar in the Record Books

On a night when Brazil eased past Haiti with a commanding 3-0 victory at the World Cup 2026, forward Matheus Cunha etched his name into the history books of Brazilian football. According to performance statistics compiled by the sports analytics platform Sofascore, Cunha’s display stands as one of the highest-rated performances by a Brazilian player at a World Cup stadium in the 21st century.

Making his very first World Cup career start against Haiti, the forward capitalized on the opportunity, earning a rare 9.2 match rating from Sofascore for his dominant frontline display.

Equaling Oscar, Chasing Ronaldo's Legacy

With his 9.2 rating, Cunha has climbed into a tie for the second-highest match rating achieved by a Brazilian player in a single World Cup fixture since the turn of the century.

He shares the second-place historic tier with former midfielder Oscar, who registered an identical 9.2 rating exactly 12 years ago during Brazil's opening match against Croatia at the 2014 World Cup.

The absolute pinnacle of the 21st-century record book remains guarded by legendary striker Ronaldo Nazário, "The Phenomenon." Ronaldo secured a 9.3 rating during the 2006 World Cup in Germany for his masterclass against Japan, which remains the highest single-match rating for any Brazilian player in modern World Cup history.

For Cunha, stepping onto the pitch for his full World Cup debut and immediately matching the statistical milestones of icons like Ronaldo and Oscar marks an unforgettable turning point in his international career.

His performance, which included a decisive first-half brace, not only secured three crucial points for Carlo Ancelotti’s side but firmly establishes him as a lethal component of the Seleção's attacking trident heading into the knockout rounds.