With Diniz in and squad settled, see Corinthians' least-used in 2026 | OneFootball

Corinthians reached the break in the schedule for the World Cup with a more clearly defined team base under coach Fernando Diniz. Since the manager’s arrival, some players have started to get a longer run of games, while others are still looking for space in the black-and-white squad to increase their involvement this season.

With fewer changes to the starting lineups and a formation considered the coach’s first choice, part of the squad has had few opportunities on the pitch in 2026. Among the players with the least involvement are Jacaré, Alex Santana, Bahia and Felipe Longo, who have each played only once for Corinthians so far this year.

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In addition to them, names that had more space in previous seasons have also lost prominence in recent months. That is the case for Fabrizio Angileri, Charles and Gui Negão, who have appeared less frequently in the coaching staff’s selections.

The list also includes players who have dealt with physical issues or recently arrived at the club. Hugo Farias is recovering from a knee injury, while Kauê and João Pedro Tchoca have also spent time sidelined. Tchoca even came close to a transfer to Torino, in Italy, but did not pass the medical exams and has remained in Corinthians’ medical department since early April. Right-back Pedro Milans, signed recently, is still adapting to the squad.

Check out the current Corinthians squad players with the least involvement in 2026:

Among the players with the fewest minutes played this season, Jacaré has the lowest involvement, having featured in just one match, with nine minutes on the field. Alex Santana also has only one game, with 17 minutes played, while Bahia came on once and totaled 49 minutes.

Felipe Longo took part in one match and was on the field for 101 minutes. Next, Hugo Farias has three games and 196 minutes played, while Kauê has also appeared in three matches, totaling 303 minutes.

João Pedro Tchoca has made five appearances and spent 451 minutes on the field. Pedro Milans, recently signed by Corinthians, has played seven matches and has 611 minutes this season.

Among the players with more appearances but still little space in the main squad are Fabrizio Angileri, with nine games and 638 minutes, Gui Negão, with 12 matches and 637 minutes, and Charles, who has taken the field 11 times, totaling 694 minutes.

Next come Memphis Depay, Kaio César, Kayke and Zakaria Labyad, all with 14 matches played in 2026. Despite the reduced number of games, the trend is that some of these players will regain minutes over the course of the season, especially with the run of competitions in the second half of the year.

Kayke’s case is an exception. The young forward is recovering from a knee injury and is only expected to return in 2027. Memphis Depay, meanwhile, could get more space again if he remains at Corinthians and is once again used as a starter by Fernando Diniz.

So far, Corinthians have played 37 matches this season. After the break, the club still has commitments in the Brazilian Championship, the Copa do Brasil and the Copa Libertadores ahead.

Amid the club’s delicate financial situation, the board is working with the possibility of making few moves in the transfer market and keeping the current squad structure. As a result, the players who had fewer opportunities in the first half of the year may still look to change that scenario and earn more space with Fernando Diniz in the final stretch of 2026.

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