Matheus França
Brazilian footballer (born 2004)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Matheus França de Oliveira (born 1 April 2004) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or forward for Vasco da Gama, on loan from Crystal Palace.
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Matheus França playing for Flamengo in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matheus França de Oliveira[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1 April 2004[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Vasco da Gama (on loan from Crystal Palace) | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Olaria | |||
| 2017–2022 | Flamengo | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2023 | Flamengo | 42 | (7) |
| 2023– | Crystal Palace | 14 | (1) |
| 2025– | → Vasco da Gama (loan) | 15 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019 | Brazil U16 | 6 | (0) |
| 2022– | Brazil U20 | 3 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 13 December 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18 January 2023 | |||
Club career
Early career
França was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and joined local club at Flamengo at the age of 12, after being one of the stand-out performers playing for Olaria. He became part of the Flamengo youth team and was considered, alongside Lázaro, one of the club's greatest young players after Vinícius Júnior.[2]
Flamengo
França debuted in the Flamengo's professional team on 6 December 2021 in a Campeonato Brasileiro Série A match against Santos at Maracanã Stadium, he replaced Éverton Ribeiro on the 78th minute.[3] He had a €200 million release clause in his Flamengo contract. [4]
On 25 January 2022, Flamengo extended França's contract until 30 April 2027.[5] On 23 February 2023, França extended his contract with Flamengo until 31 December 2028.[6]
Crystal Palace
On 1 August 2023, it was reported that Flamengo negotiated França's potential transfer to Premier League club Crystal Palace, for a reported fee around €20 million (about R$104 million), plus €5m in bonuses.[7] On 5 August, França officially joined Crystal Palace on a five-year contract; he was given the number 11 which had previously been worn by Wilfried Zaha.[8] On 21 October, he made his debut for the club in a 4–0 loss against Newcastle United.[9]
França made his first start for the club on 4 January 2024 in a 0–0 draw with Everton in the third round of the FA Cup and was voted man of the match by Palace supporters following his performance.[10][11] On 24 February, he registered his first assist for the club in a 3–0 win against Burnley, setting up a goal for Jordan Ayew. He also won a penalty in the same match which was subsequently scored by Jean-Philippe Mateta.[12] On 2 April 2025, França scored his first goal for Palace, a 92-minute equalizer in a 1-1 away draw against Southampton. [13]
International career
França has played internationally for Brazil at under-16 level with six appearances.
França has made three appearances for the Brazil U20 team. He was called-up to represent Brazil at the 2023 South American U-20 Championship, but Flamengo asked for his release to play in the FIFA Club World Cup.[14]
Career statistics
- As of match played 25 May 2025[15]
| Club | Season | League | State league[a] | National cup[b] | League cup[c] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Flamengo | 2021[16] | Série A | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2022[17] | Série A | 17 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[d] | 1 | — | 23 | 6 | |||
| 2023[18] | Série A | 9 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 3[d] | 1 | 2[e] | 0 | 28 | 3 | ||
| Total | 27 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 9 | |||
| Crystal Palace | 2023–24[18] | Premier League | 10 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25[19] | Premier League | 4 | 1 | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 1 | ||||
| 2025–26[20] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 14 | 1 | — | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 1 | |||||
| Career total | 41 | 6 | 15 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 71 | 10 | ||
- Includes Campeonato Carioca
- Includes Copa do Brasil, FA Cup
- Appearances in Copa Libertadores
- One appearance in Supercopa do Brasil, one appearance in FIFA Club World Cup
Honours
Flamengo
Crystal Palace