Operário signs first professional contract with 18-year-old goalkeeper
Operário Ferroviário signs first professional contract with 19-year-old goalkeeper Matheus Lopes, who stood out in the Brazilian Under-20 Cup.
The Operário Ferroviário announced the signing of the first professional contract of 18-year-old goalkeeper Matheus Lopes. The player, who has been part of the Ponta Grossa club’s core categories since 2025, is taking another important step in his career after excelling in state and national competitions with the alvinegra shirt.
The professionalization represents an achievement for the young athlete, who went through the under-17 and under-20 teams of the Fantasma and gained space over the last few seasons.
Trajectory of Matheus Lopes in the Worker
Matheus Lopes arrived at Operário Ferroviário in 2025 to defend the U17 team during the Paranaense Championship of the category. At the beginning of his career, he had to overcome a period of injury recovery before advancing in sports training.
After returning to the activities, the goalkeeper was promoted to the under-20 roster, starting to play important competitions in the calendar of the base categories.
Among the tournaments played are the Campeonato Paranaense, the Copa do Brasil U-20 and the Copa Paraná. The participations contributed to the development of the athlete and to his consolidation in the alvinegro cast.
Penalty defense marked participation in the Copa do Brasil
One of the highlights of Matheus Lopes took place during the Copa do Brasil U-20.
In the first phase of the competition, against Chapecoense, the goalkeeper defended a penalty charge and contributed directly to the Operário Ferroviário classification.
The performance was one of the highlights of the player's recent trajectory in the base categories of the Phantom, reinforcing his participation in decisive matches.
Goalkeeper celebrates first professional contract
With the signing of the professional bond, Matheus Lopes celebrated the achievement and highlighted the dedication necessary to achieve this stage of his career.
“This contract represents much more than a dream, it is the consolidation of daily effort. I thank God and everyone who helped me get here. Now I will work even harder to defend this shirt," said the goalkeeper.
At the age of 19, Matheus joined the group of athletes with a professional contract with the Worker, continuing the work developed since his arrival at the club.
The subscription also represents another step in the Phantom players training process, which maintains its base categories as part of the sports structure in Ponta Grossa.
The club did not inform, in the released statement, the term of the new contract nor whether the goalkeeper will be integrated immediately in the training of the main team.
