Maurício becomes third Palmeiras player to score at a World Cup this century | OneFootball

Maurício scored on his World Cup 2026 debut, yet Paraguay fell 4-1 to the United States. The Palmeiras midfielder still wrote his name into the club’s history this century.

Wearing No 18 for the Verdão, he netted in the 73rd minute for Paraguay’s only goal. Nosso Palestra notes that the strike made him only the third Palmeiras player to score at a World Cup in the 21st century.

Jorge Valdivia did so for Chile in 2014, scoring in a 3-1 win over Australia in Group B of the tournament in Brazil.

Right-back Arce achieved the feat in 2002 for Paraguay, converting a free-kick in a 2-2 draw with South Africa in Busan, South Korea. The goal proved vital in securing a point in the group stage.

Maurício’s effort arrives 24 years after Arce and 12 after Valdivia, underscoring Palmeiras’ presence on the World Cup stage.

Gustavo Gómez, Maurício and Ramón Sosa are the Palmeiras players representing Paraguay at this World Cup. The 2026 finals run from 11 June to 19 July across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with 48 teams and 104 matches. The final is set for Sunday, 19 July, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with the third-place play-off on 18 July at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Source: Nosso Palestra