Ricardo Mathias is a 19-year-old striker currently playing for Sport Club Internacional. After starting his youth career at Ferroviária in 2021, he joined Internacional’s academy in 2022. In 2024, Mathias made his professional debut for the first team and has impressed, scoring five goals so far, mainly appearing off the bench in the last 15-20 minutes of games. He has also earned call-ups to Brazil’s U17 and U20 national teams.
Mathias stands at 1.92 m (6’4”). Despite his height, he possesses impressive pace and agility for his frame. He is quick over both short bursts and longer distances, able to break in behind and outpace defenders. Mathias’s size and frame allow him to hold up play effectively, even pinning more experienced defenders, but his physical presence remains inconsistent. He can still be bullied off the ball or stumble under light challenges. He will need to improve his strength and balance to handle the constant duels his position demands.
Mathias operates mainly as a technical target man. While often used as a hold-up outlet, he will also drop deep to link play or make runs in behind the back line. It is common to see him drift out wide, asking for the ball to be played into his feet, and running at defenders when he has space. His dribbling technique can appear awkward due to his height, but most of the time, his touches are sharp and remain close to his body. A standout quality of his game is his chest control. He can settle the ball cleanly, even while in mid-air, and can play first-time passes directly from his chest. In aerial duels, he uses his height to tower over opponents, flicking on headers to runners in behind.
Although he can link play, his passing remains an area for improvement. He can misplace simple passes or hit them loosely, leading to turnovers. He has a bit of flair, occasionally attempting flicks or backheels. His first touch is generally reliable when shielding from defenders, but lapses in concentration can result in a heavy touch or loss of possession. In front of goal, Mathias is comfortable with a variety of finishes. He can shoot effectively off the dribble, running in behind, in 1v1 situations, or when attacking crosses. He is capable of finishing with both feet and with his head. He makes clean contact when striking with the laces or the inside of the foot.
Mathias displays intelligent off-ball movement, frequently finding gaps in the backline to exploit. He makes multiple runs in behind in games where his teammates can find him in space. In the box, he uses his height to outjump opponents to get on the end of crosses, but he is also able to create separation through his explosive pace. However, his penalty-area movement still needs refinement. At times, he can be static, making it difficult for teammates to pick him out. The majority of his runs are towards the near post, a tendency opponents pick up on, making his movements easier to read. Defensively, his work rate can be inconsistent. He is capable of pressing with intensity and closing down defenders, but does not always sustain that effort.
Mathias is still a raw talent. He will need to improve physically if he is to withstand the demands of European football. Improving his link-up play will also be important. Continuing his development at Internacional for another 1-2 seasons at least will benefit him. His next move should be to a league outside Europe’s top five, where he can continue developing without feeling pressure to deliver immediately.
Target Scouting 