SÃO PAULO – Jesse Lingard marked his debut for Corinthians with a goal in a 2-0 victory over Universitario in their CONMEBOL Libertadores match on Wednesday, May 1, 2026. The English midfielder joined the Brazilian club hoping to make an impact, and he delivered quickly, finding the back of the net to help secure a crucial win for Corinthians in the group stage.
Lingard, who previously played for Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, expressed his excitement after the match. “’Vai Corinthians’!” he exclaimed, referencing a popular chant among the club’s supporters. He also acknowledged the need to quickly adapt to his new surroundings, stating, “I need to adapt quickly.”
The opening goal came courtesy of Yuri Alberto, who assisted Lingard for the second of the night. The victory is significant for Corinthians as they aim to progress in the prestigious South American tournament. Lingard spoke about the importance of the Libertadores, saying, “Libertadores is giant, we want to reach the final.”
Speaking to BBC, Lingard shared his experience of playing in Brazilian football for the first time, saying, “’I’ve never seen anything like this before’.” He also highlighted the passionate support of the Corinthians fans, noting the unique atmosphere at the Neo Química Arena.
Corinthians coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo has also been praised by Lingard, who described his approach as “different.” Lingard expressed his ambition to lead Corinthians to the final of the Libertadores, stating, “Diniz is different, and we want to reach the final.”
This win provides a positive start to Lingard’s Corinthians career and boosts the team’s chances of advancing in the CONMEBOL Libertadores. The result extends Corinthians’ strong form and solidifies their position in the competition.
