The hope that dies last
Três jogadores do Corinthians — Matheuzinho, Matheus Bidu e Hugo Souza — não foram convocados para os amistosos de março da Seleção Brasileira, mas o sonho permanece vivo. Lesões em concorrentes diretos abriram brechas em posições antes bloqueadas, e a presença da comissão técnica de Ancelotti no estádio para observá-los de perto sugere que o interesse é real. No futebol, como na vida, a porta que parece fechada raramente está trancada — e esses três seguem batendo.
- A convocação de março saiu sem seus nomes, mas nenhum dos três baixou a cabeça — a ausência foi sentida, não aceita.
- Lesões em Vanderson, Éder Militão e Caio Henrique esvaziaram posições que pareciam ocupadas, criando uma janela inesperada.
- A visita dos assistentes de Ancelotti e do preparador Taffarel ao jogo do Corinthians contra o Santos foi um sinal concreto de que o monitoramento continua.
- Hugo Souza lidera os goleiros brasileiros em defesas de pênalti desde 2025, com 10 paradas — um diferencial raro numa posição onde isso pode decidir torneios.
- Os três seguem entregando atuações consistentes no clube, apostando que o desempenho dentro de campo é o único argumento que realmente importa.
Quando Carlo Ancelotti divulgou a lista da Seleção Brasileira para os amistosos de março, os nomes de Matheuzinho, Matheus Bidu e Hugo Souza não estavam nela. Mas o que poderia ter sido um ponto final se revelou, na prática, apenas uma vírgula — porque lesões em concorrentes diretos e uma visita discreta da comissão técnica italiana ao Parque São Jorge mantiveram a chama acesa.
Mino Fulco, Francesco Mauri e o preparador de goleiros Cláudio Taffarel foram ao jogo do Corinthians contra o Santos no domingo, numa missão de observação que não passou despercebida. O timing é significativo: Vanderson, do Monaco, e Éder Militão estão lesionados, deixando a lateral direita com menos opções. Matheuzinho, que foi peça-chave na conquista da Copa do Brasil no ano passado, soma 125 jogos pelo clube com cinco gols e oito assistências, criando em média uma chance por partida. Ele sabe que só pode controlar o que faz dentro de campo — e é isso que tem feito.
Na lateral esquerda, Matheus Bidu ganhou espaço com a lesão de Caio Henrique. Seu histórico ofensivo chama atenção: em 49 jogos na temporada passada, marcou cinco gols e deu quatro assistências — números incomuns para um defensor. Nesta temporada, mantém regularidade com nota 7.07 no Sofascore e o apoio público de ex-jogadores do clube.
Hugo Souza é o caso mais singular dos três. Já convocado três vezes por Ancelotti e titular na derrota por 3 a 2 para o Japão, o goleiro de 27 anos se tornou o terceiro maior pegador de pênaltis da história do Corinthians, com 14 defesas. Desde 2025, lidera todos os goleiros brasileiros nesse quesito, com 10 paradas. Ele concorre com Alisson, Bento, Ederson e John, mas seu domínio nas cobranças é um diferencial concreto — o tipo de habilidade que pode definir uma Copa do Mundo.
Nenhum dos três está na lista de março. Mas a comissão técnica foi até eles, os rivais estão machucados, e a Copa do Brasil conquistada juntos ainda é recente. No futebol internacional, às vezes isso é suficiente para manter viva a esperança que teima em não morrer.
Three players from Corinthians are holding onto a dream that slipped through their fingers this week. When Carlo Ancelotti released his roster for Brazil's March friendlies on Monday, Matheuzinho, Matheus Bidu, and Hugo Souza were not on it. Yet none of them has given up hope of wearing the yellow shirt—and recent injuries to their competition have cracked open a door that seemed firmly shut.
The club itself is not in its strongest moment this season, but these three have been performing at a level that keeps the national team conversation alive. On Sunday, Ancelotti's staff—assistants Mino Fulco and Francesco Mauri, along with goalkeeper coach Cláudio Taffarel—made the trip to watch Corinthians play Santos, a direct scouting mission that signals the Italian coach is still watching. The timing matters. Several established players at their positions have fallen to injury, and in international football, injury opens doors.
Matheuzinho plays right back, a position suddenly thin with options. Vanderson at Monaco suffered a muscle injury and won't be available. Éder Militão, one of Ancelotti's trusted defenders, is also dealing with physical problems. That leaves Wesley at Roma and Vitinho at Botafogo competing for spots, but Matheuzinho has momentum. He was instrumental in Corinthians' Copa do Brasil victory last year, providing one of the assists that sealed the title. In 15 games this season, he has started 12 times and created one goal-scoring chance per game, with a Sofascore rating of 6.93. Over his full tenure at the club—125 games—he has five goals and eight assists, averaging nearly one key pass per match. When asked about his chances, Matheuzinho spoke with the clarity of someone who understands what he can and cannot control. He said he dreams of the call, but knows the only thing within his reach is delivering his best football for Corinthians. If he keeps playing well, he reasoned, the national team selection will follow naturally. It is the hope that dies last.
Matheus Bidu, the left back, gained ground after Caio Henry of Monaco got injured. Bidu's appeal lies in his attacking prowess—last year in 49 games he scored five goals and provided four assists, an unusually high output for a defender. This season in 15 starts, he has one goal and one assist, with a 7.07 rating. He has been clear about his ambition: representing Brazil is the dream every athlete carries from childhood, and he is working toward it. Even former Corinthians players like André Santos have publicly backed his case.
Then there is Hugo Souza, the goalkeeper. He has been called up three times by Ancelotti and started in Brazil's 3-2 loss to Japan. At 27, he has become the third goalkeeper in Corinthians history to save the most penalties, with 14 stops—behind only Cássio and Ronaldo Giovanelli. Since 2025, he leads all Brazilian goalkeepers in penalty saves with 10, ahead of names like Cássio, Weverton, and Everson. This season he has made 2.6 saves per game with a 72% success rate on shots faced. Souza has spoken openly about his World Cup dream, something he has carried since childhood. He wants it to become routine, not just a moment. He is competing against Alisson Becker, Bento, Ederson, and John for the number-one spot, but his penalty record is a genuine differentiator in a position where that skill can decide tournaments.
Ancelotti's staff was at the Corinthians match to see these players up close. The injuries to their rivals have created space. The Copa do Brasil title they won together last year sits in their recent history. None of them made the March squad, but the pathway has not closed. For players at this level, sometimes that is enough.
Notable Quotes
The only thing I can do, that's within my reach, that I control, is deliver my football to Corinthians. And I believe if I'm delivering well, continuing what I'm doing, a good run, continuing to play well, I think it will be natural.— Matheuzinho
The World Cup is a dream. Everyone who starts in football thinks about it. I think about it every day. I dreamed things I live today. May it be a dream that becomes routine.— Hugo Souza
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does Ancelotti's staff showing up to watch a single match matter so much here?
Because it signals active evaluation. These players weren't called up, but the coaching staff traveled to see them in person. That's not routine—it means they're still in consideration, still being studied.
Matheuzinho says the call-up isn't in his control, only his performance is. Does he actually believe that?
He seems to. He's been through enough to know that complaining about selection doesn't help. What he can do is play well for Corinthians, and he's doing that. The rest is noise.
Why is Matheus Bidu's attacking output so unusual for a left back?
Most defenders at that level are defensive specialists. Bidu scores and creates chances at a rate you'd expect from a winger. That's rare enough to be valuable—it gives Ancelotti a different kind of option if he needs attacking width from the back line.
Hugo Souza's penalty record seems almost like a party trick. Does it really matter at the international level?
It matters more than people think. Tournaments are decided by penalties. If you have a goalkeeper who can save them at a higher rate than your competitors, that's a genuine edge. Ancelotti would know that better than most.
These three won the Copa do Brasil together. Does that shared success help their case?
It shows they can perform under pressure and win titles. That's the kind of experience international teams value. But it also means they're tied to a club that's struggling this season, which cuts the other way.
What happens if none of them get called up for the next squad?
They keep playing well for Corinthians and hope injuries continue to open doors. At this level, you're always one injury away from your chance.