Although Matthews has never played for the Brazilian national team, in July 2021 he had already been in China for five years and fulfilled the naturalization requirements for joining the national team. At the time, the 38-year-old was in the first division and was unable to complete the naturalization process immediately, thus missing out on the opportunity to represent the national team in the World Qualifiers, which was an unfinished business.
So far, Matthews has been playing in China for seven years, accumulating 66 goals, which is remarkable for his efficiency. As Matthews is about to enter his 40s, Zhejiang has not chosen to renew his contract. I can't help but feel that China has long been a second home for Matthews, and many fans have voiced their hope that Matthews will not forget this cozy home in the future! (Old Qiu Chinese Super League commentary)
