In January 2026, Brazilian footballer Matheus Cunha stepped onto the mats for the first time, beginning his Brazilian jiu-jitsu journey at Valour Jiu-Jitsu under the instruction of Lucio 'Lagarto'. The move into martial arts marked a new chapter for the striker, who embraced the discipline with visible enthusiasm and commitment from the outset.

First Stripe and the Culture of Earned Rank

By January 21, 2026, Lucio 'Lagarto' had promoted Cunha to white belt with one stripe — a milestone that carries genuine significance in jiu-jitsu culture regardless of where it falls in a practitioner's development. Cunha documented his training and drilling sessions on social media, captioning one post with the phrase, "Those who are not graduates, please show respect" — a direct nod to the values of hierarchy and earned rank that define the art. Lagarto responded publicly, praising the experience of working with Cunha and underscoring the importance of the first belt and first stripe as a practitioner's formal entry into the sport's lineage.

Visibility and Impact on the Jiu-Jitsu Community

Cunha's foray into grappling reflects a broader trend among elite professional footballers who turn to martial arts for physical conditioning, mental focus, and personal challenge. His public platform brought considerable attention to Valour Jiu-Jitsu and Lucio 'Lagarto', demonstrating how high-profile athletes can meaningfully amplify visibility for the jiu-jitsu community in ways few practitioners can achieve independently.

Matheus Cunha is a Brazilian professional footballer whose transfer to Manchester United from Wolverhampton Wanderers, completed on June 12, 2025, represented a significant step forward in his club career. Valued at £62.5 million, the move reflected the high regard in which Cunha was held across European football at the time.

Premier League Impact and Elite Visibility

During the 2025/2026 Premier League season, Cunha established himself as a meaningful attacking contributor, accumulating approximately seven Premier League goals by January 2026 — a return that included an assist in a 2–0 victory over Manchester City. Those performances kept his profile firmly in the public eye and underlined his quality at the highest level of the English game.

It is within this context of elite-level visibility that Cunha's decision to begin training Brazilian jiu-jitsu carries added weight. His social media following ensured that posts documenting his time at Valour Jiu-Jitsu reached a wide audience, drawing new eyes to the sport and to instructor Lucio 'Lagarto' in a way that few jiu-jitsu practitioners could replicate on their own.