Robson Matheus

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Tomé de Araújo and the second or maternal family name is Benegas.

Robson Matheus
Personal information
Full name Robson Matheus Tomé de Araújo Benegas
Date of birth (2002-05-18) 18 May 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Always Ready
Number 21
Youth career
2013–2016 Corinthians
2016–2017 Portuguesa
2017–2021 Palmeiras
2021–2022 Cruzeiro
2022 Ibrachina [pt]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Always Ready 36 (11)
International career‡
2019 Bolivia U17 4 (1)
2024– Bolivia 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:15, 30 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:06, 19 November 2024 (UTC)

Robson Matheus Tomé de Araújo Benegas (born 18 May 2002), known as Robson Matheus, is a Bolivian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Always Ready and the Bolivia national football team.[1]

Early and personal life

Born in Santa Cruz de la Sierra to a Bolivian mother and Brazilian father, Robson moved to Brazil at the age of ten, and started playing for Corinthians.[2] In 2018, after a short period at Portuguesa, he moved to Palmeiras.

In June 2021, Robson Matheus (also nicknamed Bolívia at the time) signed for Cruzeiro and was assigned to the under-20 team.[3] In August 2022, after being released by the latter side,[4] he agreed to a deal with Ibrachina [pt].

Club career

In December 2022, Robson Matheus signed for Club Always Ready.[5] He spent the entire 2023 season without featuring for the main squad, before making the pre-season with the club for the 2024 season.

Robson Matheus made his senior league debut for Always Ready on 17 February 2024, against Universitario de Vinto.[6] In April 2024, he reported a rejected spot-fixing offer he refused to deliberately earn a booking during a Copa Sudamericana tie against Defensa y Justicia. He said that an initial offer of US$ 5,000 was doubled to US$ 10,000 after he initially refused; the call came from a Paraguayan number.[7][8]

Robson Matheus scored his first senior goal on 18 September 2024, netting his team's second in a 3–3 away draw against San Antonio Bulo Bulo. In the following three months, he would score a further ten goals, finishing the year as the club's top scorer.

International career

In 2019, Robson Matheus was called up to the Bolivia national under-17 team whilst he was in the youth academy at Palmeiras.[9] He received his first call-up to the full side in March 2024, for two friendlies against Algeria and Andorra.[10]

Robson Matheus made his full international debut on 25 March 2024, starting in a 1–0 win over Andorra.[11][12] In June, he was included in Antônio Carlos Zago's preliminary 29-man squad for the 2024 Copa América,[13] being also included in the final list.[14] However, he failed to make a single appearance in the competition.

Career statistics

Club

As of 1 January 2025.[15]
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Always Ready 2023 Primera División 0 0 — 0 0 0 0
2024 36 11 — 12[a] 1 48 12
Career total 36 11 0 0 12 1 48 12
  1. ^ Four appearances and one goal in Copa Libertadores, eight appearances in Copa Sudamericana

International

As of 19 November 2024
National team Year Apps Goals
Bolivia 2024 5 0
Total 5 0

References

  1. ^ "Robson Tome". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Robson: "Trabajo duro por seguir en la selección y volver a un Mundial"" [Robson: "I work hard to remain in the national team and to return to a World Cup"] (in Spanish). Visión 360. 27 September 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  3. ^ "Cruzeiro contrata meia boliviano de 19 anos para o time sub-20" [Cruzeiro sign 19-year-old Bolivian midfielder for the under-20 team]. Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). 17 June 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Rescisões de Bolívia, Miticov e Vitinho com o Cruzeiro são publicadas no BID" [Rescisions of Bolívia, Miticov and Vitinho with Cruzeiro are published in the BID] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário Celeste. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  5. ^ "Possível rival do Atlético contratou ex-Cruzeiro para jogar a Libertadores" [Possible opponent of Atlético signed former Cruzeiro man to play in the Libertadores]. Super Esportes (in Brazilian Portuguese). 21 December 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  6. ^ "ALWAYS READY VS. UNIVERSITARIO DE VINTO 1 - 1". Soccerway. 17 February 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Midfielder of Always Ready denounces offer to intentionally receive yellow card in the South American Cup". azscore. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Jogador de time boliviano diz ter recebido oferta para manipular jogo da Copa Sul-Americana" [Player from a Bolivian team says he received an offer to manipulate Copa Sudamericana match]. istoe.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Istoé. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Una semana inolvidable para Robson Matheus" [An unforgettable week to Robson Matheus]. Late! (in Spanish). 16 September 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Robson Matheus, jugador de la Verde: "Agradezco la confianza de Zago"" [Robson Matheus, la Verde player: "I thank Zago's trust"] (in Spanish). El Deber. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  11. ^ "Robson debutó en la selección boliviana; Akologo y Rafinha tendrán que esperar" [Robson debuted in the Bolivia national team; Akologo and Rafinha will have to wait] (in Spanish). El Deber. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  12. ^ "Yomar Rocha y Robson Matheus, los estrenos de Bolivia en Argelia" [Yomar Rocha and Robson Matheus, Bolivia's debuts in Algeria] (in Spanish). OneFootball. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Conoce a los 29 convocados de Bolivia para la Copa América" [Meet the 29 called-up players of Bolivia for the Copa América] (in Spanish). Los Tiempos. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Copa América 2024: Las listas de jugadores las 16 selecciones" [2024 Copa América: The squad lists of the 16 national teams]. copaamerica.com (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  15. ^ Robson Matheus at Soccerway. Retrieved 1 January 2025.