Yuri Alberto on Corinthians landmark and Maracanã return after 2025 title | OneFootball

On Tuesday afternoon (31), Corinthians wrapped up its preparations after the first FIFA international break of the year as it looks to snap a seven-match winless streak this season – five wins and two draws. This Wednesday (1), Alvinegro visits Fluminense at Maracanã Stadium at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) for the ninth round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship.

The club from Parque São Jorge currently sits 11th in the national competition with 10 points – two wins, four draws, and two losses – with seven goals scored and seven conceded. The Corinthians squad began the day with a video session featuring tactical instructions in the Flexform Briefing Room, followed by activation work in the gym.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Next, the players went out onto the pitch, where they carried out tactical work, along with a ten-versus-ten activity. After the session ended, striker Yuri Alberto was asked about an expressive milestone in a Corinthians shirt. On Sunday, March 22, the center-forward found the net in the 1-1 draw against Flamengo in Itaquera and reached 80 goals for Alvinegro, drawing level with former attacking midfielder Neto, who had an important spell at Parque São Jorge in the 1990s, and earning a place on the list of the 25 top scorers in the history of the São Paulo club.

“It’s rewarding to reach this great milestone at my home, Neo Química Arena. It’s a place where I feel very good. The fans give me incredible confidence and support so I can reach these numbers and be close to great names like the star Neto (80 goals) as the top scorer of the century. I feel very proud and grateful to the whole team for that support. Alone, I wouldn’t be able to reach these great milestones. Thanks to my teammates and our entire staff, who give me the support to be well and happy on the pitch, helping our Coringão by scoring goals and providing assists,” he began.

He then commented on his return to the Maracanã for the first time since the 2025 Copa do Brasil title, won against Vasco da Gama in a 2-1 victory. In the second leg, after a goalless draw in the first match, Yuri Alberto scored the goal that opened the scoring for Alvinegro midway through the first half. He also assisted Memphis Depay for Corinthians’ second goal.

“Going back to the Maracanã after winning a major title is really cool. We know how important the three points are in the Brasileirão. We’re going there confident with our fans, who will invade Rio de Janeiro once again to give us a lot of support so we can come away with the win,” he said.

Yuri Alberto’s career at Corinthians

The center-forward was signed by Corinthians in mid-2022, initially arriving on loan from Zenit of Russia. At the start of 2023, he was signed permanently in a deal involving five players. Since then, he has recorded 80 goals and 22 assists in 218 appearances for Alvinegro (186 as a starter) – 96 wins, 57 draws, and 65 losses. He is the club’s top scorer of the century, as well as the all-time leading scorer at Neo Química Arena, opened in 2014, with 50 goals in 111 matches at the venue.

In 2024, he was Brazil’s top scorer with 31 goals – 15 of them in the Brazilian Championship, where he was the competition’s leading scorer. That year, he was crucial in the team’s surge in the national tournament (from the relegation zone to the Libertadores preliminary round). Last year and at the start of 2026, he played a decisive role in winning the Campeonato Paulista, Copa do Brasil, and Supercopa against Palmeiras, Vasco da Gama, and Flamengo, respectively, scoring in all three finals. This year, he is already the team’s top scorer with four goals in 11 matches.

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