For years, the question haunting Brazilian football has been deceptively simple: who scores the goals? The Seleção have produced midfield artists, defensive rocks, and wide creators in abundance since their 2002 triumph, but the number nine position has been a revolving door of disappointment. Matheus Cunha, with two clinical finishes before halftime against Haiti, just slammed that door shut.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers striker's brace in Brazil's comfortable group-stage victory wasn't merely about the scoreline. It was about the manner — a poacher's instinct on the first, a moment of individual brilliance on the second. For a nation that has watched Richarlison, Gabriel Jesus, and a parade of others fail to fill Ronaldo's boots at major tournaments, Cunha's performance felt like an answer rather than another question.

The striker drought ends

Brazil's attacking struggles at recent World Cups have bordered on the absurd for a country of their footballing pedigree. At Qatar 2022, they scored freely against lesser opponents but looked toothless when Neymar was unavailable. The pattern repeated at Copa América cycles — beautiful buildup, profligate finishing. Cunha, 27, has been lurking on the fringes of the national team for years, never quite trusted with the central role. Haiti may not be France, but the conviction in his finishing suggested a player who has finally seized his moment.

Premier League seasoning

There is something to be said for the education Cunha has received in English football. At Wolves, he has learned to score without the luxury of dominance — to find pockets, to finish under pressure, to be decisive in moments rather than across ninety minutes. That pragmatism was evident against Haiti. He wasn't trying to be Ronaldinho. He was trying to put the ball in the net, and he did it twice before the break.

Brazil's path forward

With the group stage concluding, Brazil now enters the knockout rounds with something they lacked in Qatar: a striker in form. The Seleção's attacking depth — Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Raphinha — has never been in question. What they needed was someone to convert the chances those creators would manufacture. Cunha's brace suggests they may have found him at precisely the right moment.

Our take

One match against Haiti does not make a World Cup hero, and Brazilian football has broken hearts before with premature coronations. But Cunha's performance carried the weight of a player who understands the moment. He didn't look nervous; he looked hungry. If Brazil are to end their twenty-four-year wait for a sixth World Cup, they will need that hunger to survive the knockout rounds. For now, at least, the striker question has an answer.