Bundesliga
Cunha on Brazil call-up: "I cried tears of joy"
Hertha Berlin attacker Matheus Cunha said he shed tears of joy when he was told he had been called up to Brazil's senior squad for the first time.
Cunha has impressed since moving from RB Leipzig to Hertha in January, scoring six goals and making three more in 11 Bundesliga matches.
That form has not gone unnoticed by Brazil head coach Tite, who got in contact with the player ahead of his side's 3-1 defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt last week.
Watch: Cunha scored on Matchday 1 in Bremen
"It was after dinner, so I wanted to relax for a bit," Cunha said. Then the call came. I was so happy about it. I immediately cried tears of joy. I then told my family and we all cried together. I'm really, really happy. It's a dream come true."
Things got even more surreal for the 21-year-old when he was added to the Selecao's WhatsApp group.
"I wrote that I was happy to be part of it, and Neymar responded straightway by saying 'welcome!' He's an idol for me."
While Cunha is no doubt dreaming of starring alongside Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar in Brazil's FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Peru in October, he also has high ambitions at club level.
The skilful attacker has already got two goals this season, having scored in the DFB Cup first round as well as in Hertha's 4-1 victory at Werder Bremen on the opening weekend of the Bundesliga.
Now, though, he's hoping the Old Lady can swiftly bounce back from defeat against Frankfurt in Berlin by starting with a strong showing away to defending champions Bayern Munich on Sunday.
"I try to get better every day," Cunha said. "I want to work hard so that Hertha finish where they deserve to. My goal is to play European football with Hertha… they belong at the top end of the table."