Corinthians academy defender matches longest run of games in first team

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Central do Timão

·4 November 2025

Corinthians academy defender matches longest run of games in first team

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Corinthians won, without any scares, against Grêmio by 2-0, at the Neo Química Arena, on the afternoon of last Sunday (2), in a match valid for the 31st round of the Brazilian Championship. With the three points, the Alvinegro consolidated itself in the upper half of the table, occupying the tenth position with 42 points (11 wins, nine draws, and 11 losses – 34 goals scored and 35 conceded).

The match also marked the fifth consecutive game of defender João Pedro Tchoca wearing the Corinthians jersey, all as a starter. This sequence of games is the longest – along with the one in February this year, still in the Paulista Championship – with the Corinthians jersey since he joined the main squad.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

The defender played 450 minutes (excluding stoppage time) in the last five matches of the Alvinegro, all in the Brasileirão, against Mirassol, Santos, Atlético-MG, Vitória, and Grêmio. The young player also had the same sequence between February 3 and 19, 2025, when he played five consecutive games in the Paulista Championship (Novorizontino, Palmeiras, São Bernardo FC, and Santos) and Universidad Central-VEN (Pre-Libertadores). In these, he was only not a starter in the classic against Palmeiras, when he replaced midfielder Alex Santana at halftime.

Between the beginning of the year and the final stretch of the second semester, the athlete lost space under Ramón Díaz. In the first leg of the third phase of the Libertadores, in a 3-0 away defeat to Barcelona-EQU, the number 47 committed a penalty and, since then, had not had as much space as he currently has under coach Dorival Júnior.

In recent months, João Pedro Tchoca has been surpassing the competition from Félix Torres, Cacá, and André Ramalho – the latter recently returned from injury – in the sector, being the "second" in the hierarchy, as he has been forming a duo with Gustavo Henrique. In total, with the Corinthians jersey, there are 26 games (20 as a starter), with 15 wins, eight draws, and three losses. Additionally, he scored one goal and provided one assist.

Tchoca was promoted to the professional squad of Corinthians right after winning the 2024 São Paulo Cup, against Cruzeiro, where he was a starter alongside Renato. However, initially, he did not have much playing time with Antônio Oliveira and Ramón Díaz, and was loaned to Ceará. There, he was one of the pillars in the final stretch of the Serie B campaign, which resulted in the team's promotion to the elite after three years. At the beginning of this season, he was reintegrated into the Alvinegro squad and was part of the 2025 Paulista Championship squad.

In the 90 minutes against Grêmio, the 21-year-old defender had the following numbers: 37/39 accurate passes (95%), 13/13 accurate passes in the opponent's half (93%), 24/25 accurate passes in his own half (96%), 3/4 accurate long passes (75%), 45 actions with the ball, 1/2 ground duels won (50%) and 1/1 tackles won (100%). His rating in the app was 7.1.

Now, João Pedro Tchoca and the Corinthians squad are preparing for the next commitment in the Brazilian Championship. Next Wednesday (5), the Alvinegro will visit Reb Bull Bragantino, at 7 pm (Brasília time), at the Cícero de Souza Marques Stadium, for the 32nd round of the national competition.

Check out João Pedro Tchoca's longest game sequences at Corinthians below:

February 3 to February 19, 2025

1) Novorizontino 0 x 1 Corinthians – Paulista Championship

2) Palmeiras 1 x 1 Corinthians – Paulista Championship

3) Corinthians 2 x 0 São Bernardo FC – Paulista Championship

4) Corinthians 2 x 1 Santos FC – Paulista Championship Semifinal

5) Universidad Central-VEN 1 x 1 Corinthians – Pre-Libertadores

October 4 to November 2, 2025

1) Corinthians 3 x 0 Mirassol – 27th round Brasileirão 2025

2) Santos FC 3 x 1 Corinthians – 28th round Brasileirão 2025

3) Corinthians 1 x 0 Atlético-MG – 29th round Brasileirão 2025

4) Vitória 0 x 1 Corinthians – 30th round Brasileirão 2025