Dieguinho’s six-year transformation powers first Corinthians goal in 3-0 win | OneFootball

Dieguinho’s rise at Corinthians has been built on a body transformation. Once diminutive, the 18-year-old attacking midfielder struck his first professional goal in a 3-0 Campeonato Paulista win over Capivariano, a milestone that capped years of careful conditioning.

According to Globo.com, the Terrão graduate began in futsal and lifted his first title on grass with the under-12s at age 11, winning the 2019 Gyeongju International Youth Tournament in South Korea. Coaches admired his skill but worried about his slight frame and limited height.

Under physician Lucas Leite, who has overseen him since childhood, a tailored programme of nutrition, strict diet, strength work and quality sleep followed. He underwent blood tests every three months and used vitamin supplements, cutting out party food and sweets typical of children. Over six years he went from 40kg and 1.48m in 2021 to 68kg and 1.70m by January 2026.

Those changes fed directly into performance. Leite recalls a time when contact left him off balance and stronger peers overpowered him, so the target became strength and speed. With significant lean mass added, he now holds his ground and finds dribbling easier, while family and academy staff had long shared concerns about his growth.

He debuted in April 2025, then gained further chances under Dorival Júnior and now has 18 senior outings. A first start came in August in a mixed side against Fortaleza, then a first assist in November versus Botafogo. On Thursday, in round six of the Campeonato Paulista, he opened the scoring against Capivariano and crossed for Gui Negão before Kayke added the third for his own first professional goal, and he said he was delighted after waiting since last year and to see fellow academy products score.

Source: Globo.com