Jesse Lingard made history as the first Englishman to play in Brazil's top tier during his Corinthians debut
Jesse Lingard of Corinthians reacts after a missed chance during the match between Fluminense and Corinthians as part of Brasileirao 2026 at Maracana Stadium on April 01, 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Jesse Lingard didn't get off to the best start in Brazil(Image: Ruano Carneiro/Getty Images)
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Former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard got off to a rocky start in his new chapter at Corinthians. This was at least in terms of results as his side were well beaten in their clash against Fluminense.
The 33-year-old had been patiently waiting in Sao Paulo for his Brazilian debut after putting pen to paper at Corinthians in early March. That moment finally arrived on Wednesday evening when he came off the bench to feature in a 3-1 defeat in Rio de Janeiro.
Corinthians were perhaps never fancied to cause an upset at the Maracana, given they find themselves languishing around mid-table. Fluminense drew level on points with Palmeiras at the summit of the Brasileiro Serie A table following their latest victory.
Dorival Junior's men were already two goals down at the break when Lingard was brought on to replace Breno Bidon. Any hope of staging a comeback was effectively dashed when team-mate Allan was dismissed for an ill-advised gesture to his crotch.
For his part, Lingard cut an impressive figure on his first outing on Brazilian soil. The Englishman even went close to marking his debut with a goal before Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio pulled off a smart save to deny him.
On the whole, Lingard made a favourable impression in the match, though he found himself in a difficult situation after Corinthians were reduced to 10 men, which inevitably limited his ability to influence proceedings.
The hope now is that the experienced star can nail down a starting spot for Sunday's clash against Internacional. Not only will the opposition prove less daunting, but it will also see Lingard stride out in front of a home crowd for the very first time in São Paulo.
Lingard headed to Brazil after spending nearly two years on the books at South Korean outfit FC Seoul. By coming off the bench on Wednesday, he became the first Englishman ever to feature in the top flight of Brazilian football.
Jesse Lingard of Corinthians reacts after a missed chance during the match between Fluminense and Corinthians as part of Brasileirao 2026 at Maracana Stadium on April 01, 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Englishman made history on his debut(Image: Ruano Carneiro/Getty Images)
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While he's now made his debut, Lingard will need to bide his time before linking up with former United team-mate Memphis Depay. The Dutchman has been at the São Paulo club since 2024 but has been away on international duty with the Netherlands.
Another recognisable face in the dressing room will be that of former Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista. The one-time adversary has since become an ally, having returned to Brazil himself earlier this year.
Despite his advancing years, there were plenty of encouraging signs on Wednesday to suggest there's still plenty left in the tank for Lingard. The playmaker has put pen to paper on a nine-month contract running until the end of 2026, with the option to extend should he reach a certain number of appearances this season.