Looking back at five years of highs and lows for the Wolves men's first-team players before the 2023/24 season, next up is the recent career of Old Gold forward Matheus Cunha.
2018/19
- RB Leipzig (39 apps | 9 goals)
Aged just 18, Cunha made the move from Brazil to Europe as he joined Swiss outfit FC Sion, but it took just 12 months for the forward to make his mark in a new continent as he was signed by RB Leipzig in the summer of 2018. The Bundesliga side snapped up Cunha on a five-year deal, and it took him just days after arriving to open his account as he scores in a Europa League qualifier. He continued his prowess in front of goal throughout his debut season in Germany, with his first league goal arriving in November against future club Hertha BSC in a dominant 3-0 win. But it was in European competition where Cunha shone, as he found the net six times in Leipzig’s Europa League journey, which ended at the group stages. His second Bundesliga goal was something special as his finish against Bayer Leverkusen was won the April Goal of the Month award, as well as being nominated for the FIFA Puskas Award.
2019/20
- RB Leipzig (13 apps | 0 goals)
- Hertha BSC (11 apps | 5 goals)
The summer of 2019 couldn’t have started much better for Cunha, as he helped his country to glory at the Toulon Tournament, which ended with the forward as Brazil under-23’s top scorer. The forward also finished further efforts for his country at the 2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament, which secured Brazil’s place at the following summer’s games in Tokyo. But back in the league and Cunha was struggling to find the net in his second season in white and red. Having gone 13 games without scoring, Cunha was handed a lifeline midway through the campaign as he switched to Hertha in January, just months before Covid-19 brought football to a close. But after the Bundesliga returned following the enforced break, the Brazilian was able to find his scoring boots, as he netted five times in his first 11 outings in Berlin.
2020/21
- Hertha BSC (28 apps | 8 goals)
Cunha was reborn at Hertha and the start of the 2020/21 season was another that began in startling fashion for the Brazilian. He opened his account for the campaign in the DFB Cup first round against Eintracht Braunschweig, however, his goal was not enough for his team to make it through to the next stages as Hertha fell to a 5-4 loss. But just eight days later as the league restarted, Cunha scored the third in his side’s 4-1 win over Werder Bremen. It started a stunning run for the striker, as he scored six and claimed two assists in the opening eight matches of the season. Despite only scoring twice more during the rest of a campaign which was blighted by injury, he still finished as the club’s top scorer as Hertha finish just two places above the relegation play-offs.
2021/22
- Hertha BSC (1 app | 0 goals)
- Atletico Madrid (37 apps | 7 goals)
Called up once again to represent his country, this time at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Cunha began the 2021/22 season by scoring a crucial winning goal in Brazil’s quarter-final victory over Egypt. That was one of three goals the striker would go on to make at the tournament, with his third opening the scoring in the final as Brazil would overcome Spain 2-1 in extra time. Later that August, after just one game for Hertha, Cunha would make the switch to Spain as he joined Atletico Madrid, with his first of seven goals for Atleti that season arriving in October during a 2-2 draw with Levante. While in Spain, Cunha earned all eight of his senior Brazil caps, as he ended his first season in La Liga with six goals from 29 outings, as well as adding another to his tally in the Copa del Rey.
2022/23
- Atletico Madrid (17 apps | 0 goals)
- Wolves (20 apps | 2 goals)
Those seven goals in his first season with Atletico would be his only ones for the club as Cunha was unable to find the back of the net in the opening months of the 2022/23 season. He would find himself without a consistent run of games in Madrid making it difficult to put a run together, so when Wolves showed interest in bringing him to Molineux as Julen Lopetegui’s first signing, he quickly took the club up on the offer. Initially joining on loan, Cunha soon turned his move permanent as he became a key figure in helping the Old Gold survive for another Premier League campaign. The striker found the net twice in his first five months at Molineux, but it was his influential role off the pitch as much as on it, which proved his worth to the squad.
This article originally featured in Wolves' official 2023/24 matchday programme. Last season's programmes are still available to purchase online through retailers Curtis Sports.
