🎖 Ballon D'OneFootball: Cruzeiro star claims 4th place

The Cruzeiro team that secured its return to the Libertadores relied on the brilliance of Matheus Pereira to achieve this goal. 

He stood out throughout the season and secured FOURTH place in the Ballon D'OneFootball 2025.  

The award, given by Brazilian journalists from OneFootball, lists the best-performing players in Brazil throughout 2025, considering all competitions.

We will reveal one name per day until December 25, when the winner of the  Ballon D'OneFootball 2025 will be announced.

5th - Léo Pereira, Flamengo defender

6th - Reinaldo, left-back for Mirassol

7th - Rayan, Vasco forward

8th - Flaco López, Palmeiras forward

9th - Jorginho, Flamengo midfielder

10th - Thiago Silva, Fluminense defender

So, who will be in the Top 3? Leave your guess in the comments box!

Made the difference! 🔥

Matheus Pereira finished 2025 having played 51 matches.

He scored seven goals and provided nine assists.

His biggest highlight came in the Brasileirão, with seven celebrations and seven decisive passes.

The good season for Cruzeiro – third place in the Brasileirão and a semifinal in the Copa do Brasil – went through the feet of the number 10.

He had the company of a more lethal Kaio Jorge in 2025. He had someone to share the responsibility of being "the guy" for Raposa. 

He was the MOST fouled in Brazil 😯

Matheus Pereira comfortably led the ranking of the player who suffered the most fouls throughout the Brasileirão.

He was targeted by rivals on 111 occasions, according to Sofascore. 

Vitor Roque (91) and Breno Bidon (83) come next. 

The next Cruzeiro player in this statistic is Lucas Romero, brought down 49 times.

Hello, Ancelotti!

Matheus Pereira had only one chance to wear the Brazilian National Team jersey.

He was called up at the last minute for the match against Peru, back in October last year, after Lucas Paquetá was suspended.

He came on in the 77th minute and almost scored in the 4-0 win.

He is still seeking his first chance since Carlo Ancelotti took over as coach of the National Team. 

For what he did in 2025, didn’t the Cruzeiro number 10 deserve another chance in the National Team? Leave your analysis in the comments box!

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 Pedro Vilela - 2025 Getty Images