Take a closer look at the Premier League’s dribbling scene, where a standout Brazilian player is leading the charts. Compare his skills with others, and explore why he’s not just good but stands out for his smart and effective style of play.
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The dribbler from João Pessoa
Matheus Cunha was born in 1999 in João Pessoa, Cunha. He began in the youth ranks of Coritiba, where he showcased his talent before making a significant move to Swiss club Sion at the age of 18 in July 2017, catching the attention of scouts at the prestigious Dallas Cup youth tournament. In May 2018, he left a lasting impression by scoring a hat-trick in a 4–1 victory over FC Thun.
His career continued to ascend as he ventured into the Bundesliga, joining RB Leipzig on a five-year deal on June 24, 2018. Cunha made an impactful debut, scoring his first Bundesliga goal against his future club Hertha BSC in November 2018, contributing to a 3–0 victory. Noteworthy moments include a spectacular goal against Bayer Leverkusen in April 2019, earning him the Bundesliga Goal of the Month award and a nomination for the FIFA Puskás Award.
In a significant transfer move on August 25, 2021, he embarked on a new chapter with Atlético Madrid, signing a five-year contract for a noteworthy fee of €30 Million. Cunha made an immediate impact by scoring his first goal against Levante UD, securing a 2–2 draw and underlining his prowess on the field.
He left an indistinct mark at Atlético, yet his transfer to Wolverhampton proved lucrative. While the Metropolitano acquired him for 35 million from Hertha Berlin in the summer of 2021, he was sold to Wolves for a hefty 50 million in January 2023.
Shining in the Premier League
Cunha evolved into the most important person of Gary O’Neil’s attacking strategy, assuming the role of the ‘false 9’ and orchestrating plays for Hwang Hee-chan and Pedro Neto. This set him up in the Premier League for his mesmerizing dribbling skills, completing an impressive 31 dribbles out of 62 attempts, placing him on par with Jérémy Doku and Eberechi Eze.
Doku x Cunha x Eze, the dribble kings of the Premier League 2023/24 ⚡️
3⃣1⃣ Eberechi Eze
3⃣1⃣ Jeremy Doku
3⃣1⃣ Matheus Cunha
2⃣9⃣ Raheem Sterling pic.twitter.com/uHW9hFsMyL— Stats24 (@_Stats24) November 14, 2023
Delving into forward statistics, Cunha stands seventh in plays initiated (523) and tenth in passes made (282) in the Premier League. Gary O’Neil, acknowledging Cunha’s unique style, underscores the imperative for him to be the team’s focal point. In his words,
“He is a free spirit, a different ‘9’. He likes to have freedom and get into the game and we have to get the best out of him…without losing our essence. We need him to be the focus of the team and, to date, he has had a lot to do with the good performances we’ve had, although, it’s true, we need him to score some more goals”
Remarkably, Cunha’s defensive contributions are noteworthy, ranking fifth in tackles (17) and interceptions (6) among forwards. O’Neil commends his defensive acumen, emphasizing a nuanced understanding of the game.
Matheus Cunha: work rate 💯 pic.twitter.com/0YVItPKBfU
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 16, 2023
Samba Gold 2023: Open voting!
Voting for the Samba Gold Award 2023 is now open. Choose your favorite in the men’s, women’s and under-20 categories!
