Hulk goes a year without open-play goal, Atlético attack slumps | OneFootball

Forward Hulk is going through an uncomfortable streak at Atlético. This Monday (22), the number 7 completed one year without scoring a goal from open play in the Brazilian Championship. The last time the Atlético idol scored in this way was on September 22, 2024, in a 3-0 win over Red Bull Bragantino at Arena MRV, in the 27th round of the competition.

Since then, the top scorer has still contributed in other ways. In the current edition of the Brasileirão, he has 3 assists and 4 goals — but none from open play: one from the penalty spot, one Olympic goal (directly from a corner), and two from free kicks.

Hulk's Impact on Galo

Even at 39 years old, Hulk remains the main name in Atlético’s attacking sector. According to data from Transfermarkt, the forward has already played 269 games for the club, with 130 goals and 49 assists.

However, his offensive output has declined in recent years. Check out his performance by season:

The Problem Isn’t Just Hulk

Although the forward’s individual numbers show a decline, Atlético’s overall offensive performance has also plummeted since his arrival in 2021. That year, the team scored 136 goals in 75 games, an average of 1.81 per match.

Since then, the output has dropped year after year:

The data shows that Hulk’s individual decline has gone hand-in-hand with Atlético’s drop in average goals over recent seasons.

At 39 years old, the player hasn’t had in 2025 something that helped him in previous seasons: an efficient attacking partner. During his time at Galo, Hulk always had a close teammate to help him, either to “hold” a defender or to play one-twos.

In 2021 and 2022, Galo had athletes like Diego Costa and Keno alongside their “superhero.” In 2023 and 2024, Paulinho was the one who shared offensive duties with the number 7. For comparison, Paulinho played 120 matches for Galo, scoring 50 goals and providing 12 assists.

This season, it’s not just Hulk who has faced some criticism. Rony started the year well but then saw his performance plummet. Júnior Santos, Biel, and Dudu have yet to justify their signings; meanwhile, Cuello, who had been the most consistent player in the attacking sector, suffered a fibula fracture along with ligament rupture in his left ankle and will only return to action in 2026.

The last match in which an Atlético forward found the net was on August 14, in the 2-1 win over Godoy Cruz (ARG). In that game, Hulk and Cuello scored for Galo.

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