Injury Overview

Matheus Cunha will not participate in Brazil’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia next month. This decision follows a leg injury he sustained during Manchester United’s recent 3-2 victory over Burnley.

The injury occurred around the 30-minute mark when the 26-year-old forward indicated he needed to be substituted after clutching his hamstring. He was subsequently replaced by teammate Joshua Zirkzee.

Coaching Staff Comments

Manchester United’s head coach, Ruben Amorim, expressed concern regarding Cunha’s injury. “We need that guy really bad to be competitive,” he stated after the match, admitting he was uncertain about the severity of the injury.

Replacement and Impact on the Squad

Following the injury, Cunha was replaced in the Brazil squad by Samuel Lino of Flamengo, as confirmed in a post from the Brazil national team on X. The medical teams from both Manchester United and the national team were involved in the decision to pull Cunha from the lineup.

In addition to Cunha, Mason Mount was substituted at halftime and will also be evaluated for an injury he played through for an additional 30 minutes. Amorim acknowledged the challenges posed by losing both key players, stating, “It was hard to lose Cunha and Mason Mount.” He went on to express his concerns regarding their fitness and availability for upcoming matches.

Recent Performances

Before this injury, Cunha played a significant role in Manchester United’s recent matches, including a tense penalty shootout loss against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup. Regarding the potential impact of this previous match on his injury, Amorim noted, “You don’t know if that full game in the middle of the week has something to do with the injury today.”