About to defend the Brazilian National Team in the Pan-American Games in Santiago, Chile, midfielder Matheus Dias, created by Internacional, came a long way to achieve his dream of defending his country.
Born in the East Zone of São Paulo, Matheus began his football career at the Portuguesa youth categories when he was just nine years old. To get to Lusa training, he crossed the capital of São Paulo, either by bus or subway, together with Dona Lourdes, his grandmother. Many times he passed under the turnstiles, as he didn’t have money for the ticket.
Until the end of 2017 this was his routine, since in 2018 he went to Grêmio Osasco, where he walked for about an hour on the way there, and an hour on the way back, between the accommodation and the school. From the accommodation to the training camp it was another 30 minutes on the way there and another 30 to come back.
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The long journeys came to an end when he transferred to Nação, in Santa Catarina. He stayed with the Santa Catarina team between 2018 and 2020, and still in 2020, he had a brief spell at Avaí and also at Tombense. The following year, he finally arrived at Internacional.
Hired for the under-20s on loan, the midfielder soon stood out in Alvorada and in a few games he took over the starting role, becoming a fundamental player in the team that won Gaúcho, Brasileiro and the Brazilian Super Cup, always scoring decisive goals, as in the quarterfinals of the Brasileirão against Palmeiras, at Allianz Parque, and in the big decision, against São Paulo, at Morumbi.
With his excellent performance, Internacional bought his pass and promoted him to the main team at the beginning of 2022, the year in which he moved between the juniors and the professional ranks. His debut was in the goalless draw against São Luiz, in the third round of Gauchão that year.
In an interview with Mundo Colorado, Inter’s official channel, the 21-year-old spoke about his quick rise in the Porto Alegre team.
“My journey at Inter was very quick. I arrived at the beginning of the Copa do Brasil and was agonizing over whether I would be registered, whether I would have time to play. I made my debut against Tupi, there at Zequinha. (…) and I fought, fought, was as a reserve, then managed to become a starter and stood out, scoring important goals and always working day to day until we became champions. (…) I was at home, on vacation, eating feijoada, my grandmother had made feijoada, the whole family was together, sitting on the sofa. Until my manager called me, saying that I was promoted to the professional cast, and the news also appeared on the internet, I was very emotional together with my family there, it was also a very special moment for me, which is sacred, right? I was with my family and it was just joy,” he said.
Matheus also recalled his first game at Beira-Rio, in the 3-0 victory against Palmeiras, in the last round of the 2022 Brasileirão.
“My debut at Beira Rio was as a starter, with the stadium also full, the entire crowd was out in force, it gave me those butterflies in my stomach which is always good to have, but the people made me very confident and I was also very confident,” he remembered.
While 2022 was a year of transition, 2023 has been one of consolidation. There are already 27 matches in the season, nine times more compared to last year, 11 as a starter. In February, his contract was extended until December 2027.
To close what has already been a special year, the midfielder is looking to fulfill yet another dream, winning a gold medal for his country.
Brazil’s debut at the Pan American Games will be on the 23rd, at 6pm, Brasília time, against the United States team.
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