Matheus Cunha Rejects Favoritism Talk Ahead of Brazil's World Cup Match vs Norway

After Brazil's 2‑1 win over Japan in Houston, striker Matheus Cunha was captured making a five‑finger gesture toward Japanese forward Kento Shiogai, responding to the Japanese player's earlier comment that Brazil "was not as it used to be." Cunha called the remark disrespectful and said he does not chase media narratives of Brazil being a favorite.

He noted that Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and Norway striker Erling Haaland had recently praised Brazil, but Cunha dismissed the idea of favoritism as unhelpful, emphasizing the team's evolution through recent victories over Haiti, Scotland and Japan. Ahead of the round‑of‑16 clash with Norway in New Jersey, he confirmed Brazil will miss Lucas Paquetá, who suffered a thigh injury against Japan, and said Carlo Ancelotti has chosen Endrick to replace him, with other options including Danilo Santos, Gabriel Martinelli and Neymar.

Cunha added, "We have teams that the world tends to label as the ones to beat. Slowly we are showing who we are. That so‑called favoritism does nothing on the pitch."