Gustavo Henrique boosts decisive goal involvements for Corinthians | OneFootball

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Staff

On the night of last Thursday (30), Corinthians faced Peñarol of Uruguay at Neo Química Arena in a match valid for the third round of the 2026 Conmebol Libertadores group stage, and came away with a 2-0 victory. The three points kept the team at the top of Group E with nine points — a 100% record — six goals scored and none conceded, with a place in the round of 16 well on track.

One of Timão’s goals in the match was scored by center-back Gustavo Henrique. In the 11th minute of the first half, Rodrigo Garro delivered a cross from midfield onto the head of the No. 13, who sent it into the back of the net. The 33-year-old defender, in fact, increased his tally of decisive goal contributions for Alvinegro. Since arriving in January 2024, he has recorded nine goals and four assists in 97 matches (93 as a starter).

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

When he has scored or provided an assist, Corinthians have recorded 10 wins, one draw, and one loss. Among all of his contributions, seven of them changed the course of the match, since six put Alvinegro ahead and one leveled the score. This season, for example, he scored the opening goal in the 3-0 win over Ponte Preta in Itaquera in the Paulista Championship opener.

In addition to his decisive contribution against Peñarol-URU, he also set up fellow center-back Gabriel Paulista for the first goal in the 2-0 win over Flamengo in Brasília in the Supercopa do Brasil final. Lastly, he provided an assist for defensive midfielder Raniele to open the scoring in the win over Santa Fé-COL at the Arena in the second round of the Libertadores.

In 2026, the defender has already totaled three goals and two assists. Alongside André Luiz, he is Timão’s second-highest scorer this season, behind only striker Yuri Alberto, who has found the net five times. Signed at the start of 2024, the experienced center-back is one of the pillars of Corinthians’ system, having played a role in the historic surge in the Brasileirão two years ago (from the relegation zone to the Libertadores qualifying stage) and being a starter in the title-winning campaigns of the Paulista Championship (2025), Copa do Brasil (2025), and Supercopa do Brasil (2026).

After beating Peñarol-URU 2-0 at Neo Química Arena in the Conmebol Libertadores group stage, Corinthians now turn their attention back to the Brazilian Championship. That is because next Sunday (3), at 8:30 p.m. Brasília time, Alvinegro will visit Mirassol at Maião for the 14th round of the national competition. Timão currently sit in 14th place with 15 points — three wins, six draws, and four losses — nine goals scored and 11 conceded.

Gustavo Henrique’s decisive goal contributions for Corinthians:

1) Cianorte 0 x 3 Corinthians – Copa do Brasil 2024 – assist for Wesley to open the scoring

2) Juventude 2 x 1 Corinthians – Copa do Brasil – scored Timão’s only goal in the match

3) Corinthians 3 x 1 Vasco da Gama – Brasileirão 2024 – scored the opening goal

4) Corinthians 2 x 0 Barcelona-EQU – Libertadores qualifying 2025 – assist for André Carrillo to score the second goal

5) Palmeiras 0 x 2 Corinthians – Copa do Brasil 2025 – scored Timão’s second goal

6) Vasco da Gama 2 x 3 Corinthians – Brasileirão 2025 – scored Timão’s third goal

7) Corinthians 2 x 0 Grêmio – Brasileirão 2025 – scored Timão’s second goal

8) Corinthians 2 x 2 Botafogo – Brasileirão 2025 – scored Timão’s second goal, which leveled the match

9) Corinthians 3 x 0 Ponte Preta – Paulistão 2026 – scored Timão’s opening goal

10) Flamengo 0 x 2 Corinthians – Supercopa 2026 – assist for Gabriel Paulista to open the scoring

11) Corinthians 2 x 0 Santa Fé-COL – Libertadores 2026 – provided the assist for Raniele’s first goal and scored the second

12) Corinthians 2 x 0 Peñarol-URU – Libertadores 2026 – scored the opening goal

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.