Childhood friend recalls Matheus Cunha’s rise and teases boyhood Flamengo support | OneFootball

As Matheus Cunha’s 2026 World Cup selection sparked celebrations in Paraíba, a childhood friend revisited his early days and teased a boyhood Flamengo allegiance.

According to Globo.com, Mayke Maciel, who played alongside the Manchester United number 10 in Clube Cabo Branco’s futsal ranks in João Pessoa, remembered their beginnings and said the striker stood out from the start.

Cunha has been named in all of Carlo Ancelotti’s squads so far.

Now 26, he is the second Cabo Branco futsal product to reach a World Cup, and this will be his first. The first was Otávio, who played in Qatar for Portugal. Mayke’s father, coach Mazureik Maciel, recalls believing early that Cunha would go far.

Raised in Coritiba’s academy, Cunha turned professional at Sion in Switzerland, attracting interest from European clubs such as RB Leipzig in 2018. He later represented Hertha Berlin, Atlético de Madrid and Wolverhampton before joining Manchester United.

Maciel also recounted a trip to Natal to watch Flamengo. A Flamengo fan himself, he says Cunha was one in childhood, despite the forward now denying it, and that a parental telling-off left him subdued for the match, a tale he still uses to tease him.

On Sunday 17, the Paraíba native scored against Nottingham Forest to reach 10 Premier League goals. In his debut season with Manchester United he has 13 direct goal involvements and has helped the team qualify for the next Champions League.

Source: Globo.com