Matheus França

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is França and the second or paternal family name is de Oliveira.

Matheus França de Oliveira (born 1 April 2004)^[2] is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or forward for Premier League club Crystal Palace.

Matheus França

Matheus França (left) playing for Flamengo in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Matheus França de Oliveira[1]
Date of birth	(2004-04-01) 1 April 2004 (age 21)[1]
Place of birth	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder, forward
Team information
Current team	Crystal Palace
Number	11
Youth career
	Olaria
2017–2022	Flamengo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2023	Flamengo	42	(7)
2023–	Crystal Palace	14	(1)
International career‡
2019	Brazil U16	6	(0)
2022–	Brazil U20	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 January 2023

Club career

Early career

França was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and joined local club at Flamengo at the age of 12, after being one of the stand-out performers playing for Olaria. He became part of the Flamengo youth team and was considered, alongside Lázaro, one of the club's greatest young players after Vinícius Júnior.^[2]

Flamengo

França debuted in the Flamengo's professional team on 6 December 2021 in a Campeonato Brasileiro Série A match against Santos at Maracanã Stadium, he replaced Éverton Ribeiro on the 78th minute.^[3] He had a €200 million release clause in his Flamengo contract. ^[4]

On 25 January 2022, Flamengo extended França's contract until 30 April 2027.^[5] On 23 February 2023, França extended his contract with Flamengo until 31 December 2028.^[6]

Crystal Palace

On 1 August 2023, it was reported that Flamengo negotiated França's potential transfer to Premier League club Crystal Palace, for a reported fee around €20 million (about R$104 million), plus €5m in bonuses.^[7] On 5 August, França officially joined Crystal Palace on a five-year contract.^[8] On 21 October, he made his debut for the club in a 4–0 loss against Newcastle United.^[9]

França made his first start for the club on 4 January 2024 in a 0–0 draw with Everton in the third round of the FA Cup and was voted man of the match by Palace supporters following his performance.^[10][11] On 24 February, he registered his first assist for the club in a 3–0 win against Burnley, setting up a goal for Jordan Ayew. He also won a penalty in the same match which was subsequently scored by Jean-Philippe Mateta.^[12] On 2 April 2025, França scored his first goal for Palace, a 92-minute equalizer in a 1-1 away draw against Southampton. ^[13]

International career

França has played internationally for Brazil at under-16 level with six appearances.

França has made three appearances for the Brazil U20 team. He was called-up to represent Brazil at the 2023 South American U-20 Championship, but Flamengo asked for his release to play in the FIFA Club World Cup.^[14]

Career statistics

As of match played 25 May 2025^[15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			State league[a]		National cup[b]		League cup[c]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Flamengo	2021[16]	Série A	1	0	—		—		—		—		—		1	0
	2022[17]	Série A	17	4	3	1	1	0	—		2[d]	1	—		23	6
	2023[18]	Série A	9	1	12	1	2	0	—		3[d]	1	2[e]	0	28	3
	Total		27	5	15	2	3	0	—		5	2	2	0	52	9
Crystal Palace	2023–24[18]	Premier League	10	0	—		2	0	0	0	—		—		12	0
	2024–25[19]	Premier League	4	1	—		3	0	0	0	—		—		7	1
	2025–26[20]	Premier League	0	0	—		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		14	1	—		5	0	0	0	—		—		19	1
Career total			41	6	15	2	8	0	0	0	5	2	2	0	71	10

1. Includes Campeonato Carioca
2. Includes Copa do Brasil, FA Cup
3. Includes EFL Cup
4. Appearances in Copa Libertadores
5. One appearance in Supercopa do Brasil, one appearance in FIFA Club World Cup

Honours

Flamengo

• Copa Libertadores: 2022^[21]
• Copa do Brasil: 2022^{[citation needed]}

Crystal Palace

• FA Cup: 2024–25^[22]