Matheus Santos Carneiro da Cunha was born in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil on May 27, 1999. He played futsal in Recife as a child before enrolling in Coritiba’s academy, where he impressed recruiters with his dribbling and finishing abilities. At the age of 18, he relocated to Europe and signed with Swiss club FC Sion in July 2017. In 29 league appearances, he scored 10 goals, including a memorable hat-trick against Thun in May 2018.
A five-year contract with Bundesliga club RB Leipzig was secured by Cunha in June 2018. He scored twice in 35 top-flight matches, including the April 2019 Goal of the Month, which earned him a nomination for the Puskás Award. He joined Hertha BSC in January 2020 in search of a more consistent level of football and has since scored 12 goals in 39 Bundesliga appearances. Atlético Madrid invested approximately €30 million on August 25, 2021, to acquire him for La Liga. He scored six league goals in 40 appearances.
Cunha’s debut in England occurred with Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he initially joined on a loan in January 2023. The transfer was subsequently made permanent that summer. He scored 29 Premier League goals in 82 appearances over the course of two seasons at Molineux, with a February 2024 hat-trick in a 4–2 victory over Chelsea serving as the highlight.
Cunha achieved great success with Brazil’s under-23s on the international stage. He was the top scorer at the 2019 Toulon Tournament and the 2020 Pre-Olympic Championship, and he ultimately won a gold medal in Tokyo after scoring three times in five matches. On 2 September 2021, he made his senior debut against Chile in a World Cup qualifier. He scored his first Brazil goal on 25 March 2025 in a 4–1 loss to Argentina..
On 12 June 2025, Cunha signed a five-year contract with Manchester United, with an option for a sixth year, for a reported £62.5 million, fulfilling a childhood fantasy. He and his companions used to refer to their local pitches as “Old Trafford.”