Lingard's Thrilling Brazilian Debut and Confronting Neymar in 2026

Lingard becomes the first Englishman to play in Brazil's top flight, scoring his first goal in the Copa do Brasil.

Breaking into Brazilian Football To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played. Lingard is making history as the first Englishman to play in Brazil's top flight, and he's thriving in his early days as a Corinthians player. Last week, he scored his first goal in the Copa do Brasil, a significant milestone in his Brazilian journey. ## Surprising Move with Local Reaction There was some surprise when the move was announced, with local pundit Mauro Cezar Pereira describing it as a 'strange kind of signing.' However, former Manchester United forward Lingard, who joined Corinthians after leaving FC Seoul, is settling in well and confident in his decision. ## Motivation and Expectations Lingard's motivation is clear when he says, 'I've come here to lift a trophy.' He emphasizes the significance of the competition, the size of the club, and the league, which drove his decision to join Corinthians. Lingard had offers on the table, but he chose to test himself in Brazil. ## Adjusting to Life in Brazil Lingard has already felt the intensity of the Corinthians fanbase up close, with supporters turning up at the club's training ground. He says, 'I'd never experienced it before. Fans going into the training ground.. speaking to us. You see how passionate they are for us to do well and win.' Lingard is navigating life in Brazil without a translator, but he's learning Portuguese and has picked up some basics, including greetings and ordering coffee. ## Nostalgia and Connection to Manchester United Lingard reflects on an 'amazing chapter' at his boyhood club, Manchester United, where he spent 20 years before joining Nottingham Forest in June 2022. He highlights the 'amazing things' they achieved and acknowledges the surprise among fans when he moved to Korea. Lingard believes Michael Carrick should be given the job permanently at Manchester United, citing the team's improvement under his former team-mate. ## Confronting Neymar and the World Cup Lingard names Neymar and Ronaldinho as his favorite Brazilian players, and he occasionally speaks to Neymar. He's relaxed about the prospect of facing Neymar if Corinthians play Santos, saying, 'It's always good to play against world-class players.' Lingard highlights Brazil, England, and France as strong sides for the upcoming World Cup, favoring England to go all the way.