Brazil beat Haiti 3-0 in Brazil vs Haiti, but the player ratings make the main point even clearer. Matheus Cunha was Brazil's best performer with a 9.3 after scoring twice, while Vinícius Júnior posted an 8.2 with a goal and an assist. It was a convincing response from Brazil, and this time the front line looked joined up rather than improvised.

Why Cunha and Vinícius stood above everyone else

Cunha scored in the 23rd and 36th minutes before being substituted in the 64th minute, and that early burst decided the game. Sophia Vesely wrote for si.com: "Matheus Cunha opened the night’s scoring in the 23rd minute, rebounding a line-drive from Vinicius Junior that reverberated off the fingertips of Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide." That detail matters because it showed the kind of aggressive penalty-box movement Brazil had been missing.

His 9.3 rating was the highest on the pitch, and it is hard to argue with it. Two goals in 64 minutes is already enough to headline the night, but the timing of them mattered too. Cunha put Brazil in control before half-time, which allowed the team to play with far less tension after the break.

Vinícius was the other player who gave the attack its edge. He assisted Cunha's second goal and then scored Brazil's third in first-half stoppage time. goal.com's ratings summary was blunt about his influence: "Vinicius Jr (8/10): Crucial in the run-up to the first goal. Assisted the second. Scored the third. Dangerous until subbed. Another top shift - and encouragement for the future?"

That does leave a small point of interpretation around the first goal. goal.com effectively credited Vinícius with involvement in all three Brazil goals, while si.com specifically described his shot creating the rebound for Cunha's opener. Either way, the broader conclusion holds up. Brazil's best attacking sequences went through him, and an 8.2 rating with 1 goal and 1 assist reflects that cleanly.

The midfield gave Brazil the platform

The forwards will take the attention, but Lucas Paquetá deserves a decent share of the credit. His 7.3 rating came with 1 assist and 2 key passes in 64 minutes, which is a fair summary of a midfielder who kept feeding Brazil's front players in useful areas rather than just recycling possession.

Brazil's control was not built on sterile dominance. They had 56 possession, created 3 big chances and finished with 1.5 xG to Haiti's 0.23. That is a healthier picture than a scoreline alone can give you. Brazil were not just finishing half-chances at an unsustainable rate, they were producing the better openings and giving Haiti almost nothing back.

They also put 5 shots on target. Haiti managed 3, but their attacking threat never really matched the flow of the game. Brazil led 3-0 at half-time and had already done the hard work.

That is why Paquetá's rating matters. Brazil did not need a chaotic, end-to-end match for the front three to shine. The midfield gave them enough structure to attack with better timing, and Cunha and Vinícius took full advantage.

What the result says, and what it does not

There is no need to oversell this as something bigger than one match. Haiti were the first team eliminated from the 2026 World Cup and had not appeared at the tournament since 1974, so the level of opposition has to stay in view. Brazil were supposed to win.

Still, they were supposed to win well too, and this was more convincing than a flat 3-0 can sometimes sound. The ratings tell you where the difference came from. Cunha's finishing and movement gave Brazil a focal point, Vinícius supplied the spark, and Paquetá helped knit the attack together.

There was one concern mixed into the night. Raphinha went off in the 40th minute with a suspected hamstring injury, which slightly dulled the mood before the interval even with Brazil already in command.

The useful takeaway is not that Brazil have solved everything. It is that, against Haiti, their attacking unit finally looked coherent and the standout players were obvious. Cunha finished with a 9.3, Vinícius with an 8.2, and the 3-0 scoreline matched what happened on the pitch.

FAQ

Who were Brazil's best players against Haiti?

Matheus Cunha and Vinícius Júnior were the standout performers in Brazil's 3-0 win over Haiti. Cunha earned a 9.3 rating after scoring twice before being substituted in the 64th minute. Vinícius Júnior finished on 8.2 with one goal and one assist, while Lucas Paquetá's 7.3 showed the midfield also played a useful part.

Why did Matheus Cunha get the highest Brazil rating vs Haiti?

Cunha got Brazil's top rating because he decided the game early. He scored in the 23rd and 36th minutes and gave Brazil a clear edge before going off in the 64th minute. His 9.3 was the highest mark on either side and matched a night where Brazil's front line finally looked sharp.

How involved was Vinícius Júnior in Brazil's win over Haiti?

Vinícius Júnior was central to Brazil's best attacking moments. He assisted Cunha's second goal and scored the third in first-half stoppage time, earning an 8.2 rating. goal.com went even further and rated him as crucial in the move for the first goal too, while si.com only directly tied him to the rebound that led to it.

Did Brazil dominate Haiti statistically in the 3-0 win?

Yes, and the numbers fit the scoreline. Brazil created 3 big chances to Haiti's 0 and posted 1.5 xG compared with Haiti's 0.23. They also had 56 possession and put 5 shots on target. It was not a wild game, but Brazil controlled it in the areas that mattered.

Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →