Corinthians striker fares worst among the side's tallest players | OneFootball

With striker Yuri Alberto sidelined by a muscle injury in late July, after the goalless draw against Athletico-PR at Neo Química Arena in the Brazilian Championship, Pedro Raul is enjoying his longest run as a starter for Corinthians since joining the club in February 2024, with six straight matches in the starting lineup (Internacional, Red Bull Bragantino, Rosario Central-ARG, Cruzeiro, Rosario Central-ARG, Cruzeiro and Coritiba).

Despite the large number of recent opportunities under coach Fernando Diniz, Corinthians’ number 18 has the worst aerial duel success rate among the ten tallest players in the squad. The survey was published by the Fiel Imprensa profile on X, formerly Twitter. According to figures released by the page, the striker, despite being 1.93m tall, has won only 33 of 73 duels – a 45.2% success rate.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Among the 33 players in Corinthians’ squad, he ranks only 17th in this category. Unlike Yuri Alberto, who is more known for his speed and attacking the spaces behind the defense, Pedro Raul is known as a more fixed presence in the box, without great technical polish, serving mainly as a finisher, both on the ground and in the air.

With Pedro Raul available, Corinthians return to action this Sunday (30) at 4 p.m. (Brasília time) to face Santos at Neo Química Arena in a match valid for the 25th round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship. At the moment, Alvinegro sit in 10th place with 32 points – eight wins, eight draws and eight losses – with 26 goals scored and 24 conceded.

Pedro Raul’s path at Corinthians

The striker was signed by Corinthians in January 2024, at the start of former president Augusto Melo’s administration, from Toluca of Mexico for five million dollars (R$ 25 million at the exchange rate at the time), split into four installments, two to be paid in 2024 and the rest in 2025. However, Timão renegotiated the start of the payments to only the beginning of last year. As a result, due to interest, the player will cost Alvinegro eight million dollars (about R$ 42.8 million at the current exchange rate), to be paid in nine installments between 2025 and 2028.

Despite the heavy investment, Pedro Raul has not managed to establish himself at Corinthians under Mano Menezes, Antônio Oliveira, Ramón Díaz, Dorival Júnior and, so far, the situation remains the same under Fernando Diniz. After getting opportunities and delivering a low return in 2024, the striker was loaned to Ceará in March 2025. There, he was the team’s top scorer that season, with 17 goals and two assists in 45 matches. Even so, Vozão was relegated to Série B and, for financial reasons, did not exercise the option to buy the player.

Thus, the number 18 returned to Corinthians at the start of 2026 and was reintegrated into the squad, which at the time was still coached by Dorival Júnior. This year, he has made 29 appearances, with two goals and two assists. Since arriving at Timão, he has recorded six goals and four assists in 71 matches (24 as a starter) – 29 wins, 19 draws and 23 losses – a 49.8% success rate.

Aerial duel success rate among the ten tallest players in Corinthians’ squad

1. [1.82m] Alex Santana – 2/2 duels won (100%)2. [1.92m] JP Tchoca – 10/13 duels won (76.9%)3. [1.96m] Gustavo Henrique – 105/139 duels won (75.54%)4. [1.85m] Gabriel Paulista – 93/124 duels won (75.0%)5. [1.85m] Fabrizio Angileri – 10/14 duels won (71.43%)6. [1.86m] Charles – 10/15 duels won (66.67%)7. [1.82m] André Ramalho – 39/60 duels won (65.0%)8. [1.84m] Raniele – 48/102 duels won (47.06%)9. [1.82m] Matheus Pereira – 6/13 duels won (46.15%)10. [1.82m] PEDRO RAUL – 33/73 duels won (45.21%)

Corinthians squad players with a better aerial duel success rate than Pedro Raul

Alex SantanaHugo FariasJoão Pedro TchocaGustavo HenriqueGabriel PaulistaFabrizio AngileriAllanCharlesAndré RamalhoMatheus BiduAndré CarrilloVitinhoAndré LuizMatheuzinhoRanieleMatheus Pereira

The center-forward ranks only 17th among Corinthians players in aerial duel success rate.

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