Will it end today? Brazil 🇧🇷 face a No 9️⃣ goal drought | OneFootball

Matheus Cunha was the last center forward to score for the Brazilian national team.

He was the one who scored the consolation goal in the 4-1 loss to Argentina on March 25 last year — a match that led to Dorival Júnior’s dismissal.

The drought of center forwards finding the back of the net has now lasted a full year and spans nine matches.

A survey by ESPN Brasil shows that the current cycle — after the 2022 World Cup — has already featured 12 “number 9s” on the pitch.

And only five goals have been scored under Ramon Menezes, Fernando Diniz, Dorival, and Ancelotti.

Three were scored by Endrick — who will be an option off the bench against Modric & Co. later today — one by likely starter Matheus Cunha, and the other by Igor Jesus.

Endrick and Cunha are among those with the most appearances, with 14 and 12 matches respectively.

The national team’s top scorer at the Qatar World Cup with three goals, Richarlison is another with 12 appearances. But he is still without a goal.

Next is João Pedro, who still has no goals for the national team. He is expected to be the number 9 against Croatia — leaving Cunha in the “10” role.

Another player who could end that drought is Igor Thiago, who made his debut against France.

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See below the numbers for all the center forwards who have been used since 2023:

Endrick - 14 matches, 3 goals

Matheus Cunha - 12 matches, 1 goal

Richarlison - 12 matches

João Pedro - 7 matches

Gabriel Jesus - 5 matches

Igor Jesus - 5 matches, 1 goal

Evanilson - 2 matches

Pedro - 2 matches

Vitor Roque - 2 matches

Igor Thiago - 1 match

Kaio Jorge - 1 match

Yuri Alberto - 1 match

What’s coming up 📅

This Tuesday’s match against Croatia will be the last before the final World Cup squad is announced on May 18.

Then, with all 26 players called up, Brazil will play friendlies against Panama (May 31 at the Maracanã) and Egypt (June 6 in the U.S.).

Brazil’s World Cup opener will be against Morocco (Saturday, June 13, at 7 p.m.).

That will be followed by matches against Haiti (Friday, June 19) and Scotland (Wednesday, June 24).

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

📸 Maddie Meyer - 2026 Getty Images