Lucas Da Cunha’s first night with France brought a narrow win over Belgium and a moment that will stay with him: a midfield debut marked by authority, a shot against the post, and his name finally heard as he says it himself.
A composed first cap against Belgium
The 25-year-old Como midfielder was handed his first France call-up by Zinédine Zidane for the current international gathering and went straight into the starting line-up on Monday.
France beat Belgium 1-0 in their second UEFA Nations League match, with Da Cunha operating in midfield and making a bright impression on his senior international bow. He came closest to scoring in the 53rd minute, when his effort struck the woodwork.
- Lucas Da Cunha made his France debut at the age of 25.
- He started France’s 1-0 Nations League victory over Belgium on Monday night.
- The Como player hit the post shortly after the hour mark, in the 53rd minute.
- It was the second matchday of the Nations League campaign.
Da Cunha, not Cunha
The performance also revived a small but important point of pronunciation. Lucas Da Cunha shares the same spelling in his surname with Manchester United’s Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha, but the two names are said differently.
Matheus Cunha’s surname is pronounced “Koon-ya”. Lucas Da Cunha, whose family name has Portuguese-language roots, says his should be spoken as “Da Koo-na”.
Da Cunha had explained the distinction himself during an interview in April 2025. Around 18 months later, during the Belgium match, commentator Grégoire Margotton used the French midfielder’s preferred pronunciation on the broadcast.
A name heard on a breakthrough evening
For Da Cunha, the details of the night mattered beyond the scoreline. A first international start, a post struck in a tight contest and a place in a France midfield gave the Como man a platform under Zidane.
France’s victory over Belgium ensured that his first appearance for Les Bleus ended with the result he wanted, while the correct pronunciation offered a fitting footnote to a memorable evening.
