Corinthians keeper keeps making history, now third in club's penalty saves

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Central do Timão

·23 February 2026

Corinthians keeper keeps making history, now third in club's penalty saves

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Corinthians faced Portuguesa on the evening of this Sunday (22), at the Canindé Stadium, in a match valid for the quarterfinals of the 2026 Paulista Championship, and advanced to the semifinals of the state tournament by winning on penalties 8 x 7, after a 1 x 1 draw in regular time. The next opponent will be Novorizontino, at Jorge Ismael de Biasi.

Besides the qualification, the night was once again special for goalkeeper Hugo Souza, who surpassed Gylmar – 11 in 397 matches – and became the third goalkeeper with the most penalty saves in Corinthians' history (14 in 102 games) by saving three shots. Now, he is only behind Cássio and Ronaldo Giovanelli, with 32 and 27 penalties in 712 and 602 games, respectively. Dida is in fifth place, with seven saves in 95 matches.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

The first save happened at 24 minutes of the first half. In the play in question, the number 1 committed a penalty on Renê, who had received the ball face to face with the Corinthians goal and was brought down. On the shot, the same player ended up missing the penalty after Hugo Souza's save, keeping the score at zero until then.

In the penalty shootout, after a draw in regular time, Hugo Souza saved Renê's shot again and, in the decisive kick that secured the qualification, he saved Cauari's penalty. Considering only the average of penalties saved per game, Hugo Souza has the best in the club's history, with 0.14. He is followed by Dida (0.07), Cássio and Ronaldo Giovanelli (0.04), and Gylmar (0.02).

In an interview with the broadcasters after the match, the Corinthians goalkeeper celebrated the milestone reached and took the opportunity to praise the work of coach Fabio Matias at the helm of Portuguesa. He also highlighted his dream of playing for the Brazilian National Team in the 2026 World Cup.

“I always say that I want to be a protagonist. I really like it when my forwards change the result. But I can help change the result in the way I can, which is by defending in the goal and giving my best, giving my life on the field. I think today was once again like that. A difficult game, the Portuguesa team deserves a lot of praise for the work they are doing. The team was very qualified, gave us a lot of work. We often couldn't impose our game due to their merit. Congratulations to professor Fabio Matias, congratulations to Portuguesa for the work. Congratulations to the players too, they played a great game. We have been working hard, both me and our team, and all my staff. So that this continues, because we know that in football, one uses and the other doesn't.”

“A little thing can change everything, so the more we stay at our best, the better, because in football what makes us live great moments and reach a higher level, as I am reaching today, is consistency, work, because there's no point in coming here and thinking I've already conquered the world. I have to keep working, dedicating myself, I have to keep giving big things. Thank God for helping my team, thank God for achieving this, it's important, I think at this moment to thank God. As you said, I'm a month and four days before the last call-up, and I just want to do my job so that I continue going as I have in the past,” he said.

Signed in July 2024, Hugo Souza quickly became one of the pillars of the Corinthians squad. The number 1 was crucial in the team's rise in the Brasileirão that year (from the Z4 to the Pré-Libertadores), as well as being decisive in the victories of the Paulista Championship (2025), Copa do Brasil (2025), and Supercopa do Brasil (2026), against Palmeiras, Vasco, and Flamengo, respectively.

After advancing to the semifinals of the Paulista Championship, Corinthians now shifts focus to the Brazilian Championship. Next Wednesday (25), the Alvinegro visits Cruzeiro, at 8 pm, at Mineirão, for the fourth round of the national competition.

Goalkeepers with the most penalties saved in Corinthians' history

1) Cássio 32 penalties saved in 712 games2) Ronaldo Giovanelli – 27 penalties saved in 602 games3) Hugo Souza – 14 penalties saved in 102 games4) Gylmar – 11 penalties saved in 397 games5) Dida – seven penalties saved in 95 games

Goalkeepers with the highest average of penalty saves in Corinthians' history:

1) Hugo Souza – 0.14 per game2) Dida – 0.07 per game3) Cássio and Ronaldo Giovanelli – 0.04 per game4) Gylmar – 0.02 per game

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