Corinthians right-back hails Filho do Terrão, dreams of Brazil call-up

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Central do Timão

·11 de novembro de 2025

Corinthians right-back hails Filho do Terrão, dreams of Brazil call-up

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Recently, Corinthians’ right-back Matheuzinho gave an exclusive interview to Central do Timão and spoke about reaching the milestone of 100 matches wearing the Corinthians jersey, achieved in the 2-0 victory over Grêmio in Itaquera last Sunday (2), during the 31st round of the Brazilian Championship.

During his answer, he recalled his arrival at Parque São Jorge at the beginning of 2024, and initially suffered criticism due to his performances. The number 2 revealed that he even doubted his own ability, mentioning a 1-0 defeat against Internacional at Orlando Scarpelli during the first round of the 2024 Brasileirão.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

“I’m human. And everyone knows, I came from a very tough injury. I ended up coming to Corinthians, and my start wasn’t that good. I’m going to tell you something I don’t think I’ve told anyone, my dad knows. After a game, I think it was one of the worst games I’ve ever played in my career. It was a match against Internacional, in Florianópolis, I played really badly. I called my dad after the game crying and said: ‘Dad, I think I forgot how to play football.’ Because I’ve always been a guy who kept a very good level of play, sure, sometimes a bit lower, sometimes a bit higher, but I had never played as badly as I did at that time. And I doubted myself,” he began.

Matheuzinho also revealed a conversation with his father: “He (my dad) told me I was wrong. Because, come on, I didn’t get here for nothing, I didn’t get here because of one or two games, but because of everything I’ve built. So, I had this moment where I doubted myself, but I had people who helped me, made me change my mindset, that it was just a phase. If I changed some things, some attitudes I was having, maybe in my daily training, things could start working again and, thank God, I was able to turn things around. I focused only on myself, working and getting back to my best physical shape, my best performance, and I managed to turn things around. And today we’re here, we’re doing well,” he added.

Next, the number 2, who is experiencing one of his best moments at Corinthians – especially after coach Dorival Júnior arrived at the end of April – was asked about his dream of being called up to the Brazilian National Team, now led by Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti.

“There is an expectation, yes. Even because of what I’ve been showing here at Corinthians, I’ve been delivering really well for a while now, but I know that the call-up is not in my reach. The only thing I can do, that’s within my reach, that I control, is to deliver my football for Corinthians. And I believe that if I keep delivering well, keep doing what I’m doing, keep up a good streak, keep playing well, I think it will come naturally. But I dream, it’s something I keep in my mind that isn’t so far away. I know it’s difficult, especially with the World Cup coming up and only a few call-ups left, but hope is the last thing to die.”

“Let’s train, work, give even more to Corinthians than I already do, and then the Yellow Jersey will come, God willing. I think the National Team is every player’s dream. Every kid dreams of being there, wearing the Yellow Jersey, representing their country. But there’s no point in wanting to be on the National Team if, at your club, you’re just going through the motions, not giving your best football, not being your best version. So I think you have to be 100% focused on your club, where you are, what your reality is, what your daily life is, and the National Team, I think, is just a bonus, an extra gift,” he continued.

Matheuzinho secured the starting spot as Corinthians’ right-back halfway through last season, when he was crucial in the team’s surge in the Brazilian Championship, moving out of the relegation zone and qualifying for the Pre-Libertadores. He was also a starter throughout the victorious 2025 Paulista campaign, against Palmeiras, in Itaquera.

The number 2 overtook Fagner, a club idol currently on loan to Cruzeiro. So far, he has played 102 matches (78 as a starter) – 44 wins, 27 draws, and 31 losses – a 52% success rate. In addition, he has scored five goals and provided seven assists. In 2025, he has three goals and four assists.

Finally, he praised his positional rival João Vitor Jacaré (18 years old), who has been part of Corinthians’ professional squad since the beginning of the second half of the year. At the start of the year, still under Ramón Díaz, he played in two matches in the group stage of the Paulista Championship: a 2-2 draw with Portuguesa at Pacaembu, and a 1-0 away win over Novorizontino. The youngster is under contract until 2029.

“I hope so. He’s a really good kid. He’s a kid who deserves an opportunity, he’s working for it. Whenever I get the chance, I talk to him, I help him. Even though I’m young, I try to help him in some way. Because you can see he puts in a lot of effort. He trains a lot, he’s one of the first to arrive, one of the last to leave too. So, his opportunity will come, it will come at the right time. I’m sure he’ll make the most of it and I hope he does, that he has a beautiful career, because he’s a guy who works through pain, a kid who works through pain a lot, who never says anything. He’s a really chill, easy-going kid. So, I hope everything works out in his career and, if I can help, keep helping, I will, because, as I said, he’s a kid who deserves it,” he concluded.

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