Matheus Pereira leads Libertadores 2026 midfielders for goal involvements | OneFootball

Cruzeiro’s qualification for the Copa Libertadores round of 16 also goes directly through the performances of Matheus Pereira. The team’s main playmaker in the competition, the No. 10 finished the group stage as the midfielder with the most goals scored and the most direct goal involvements in the continental tournament in 2026.

With the two goals scored in the 4-0 rout of Barcelona de Guayaquil at Mineirão, Matheus Pereira reached four goals and one assist in the current edition of the Libertadores, totaling five direct goal involvements.

In addition to his attacking output, the midfielder also ranks among the competition’s top creators. According to Sofascore numbers, Matheus has four big chances created, a mark that places him among the tournament’s overall leaders in that category.

In the win that secured Cruzeiro’s place in the knockout stage, the No. 10 played a decisive role from the opening minutes. He opened the scoring just four minutes into the first half with a header after a cross from Fagner. In the second half, he helped build the second goal and found the net again with a volley that sealed the rout at Mineirão.

The performance reinforces the player’s attacking leading role throughout the continental campaign. Matheus Pereira scored in both matches against Barcelona de Guayaquil and finished the group stage as Cruzeiro’s top scorer in the Libertadores.

Matheus Pereira’s numbers in the 2026 Libertadores:

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