Atlético Mineiro, commonly known as Atlético-MG, and Cruzeiro meet on Tuesday for a place in the semi-finals of the Copa do Brasil, and if the tie cannot be settled in normal time, Atlético-MG go in as the side with the better penalty record in 2026.
The two Belo Horizonte rivals kick off at 9pm Brasília time at the Arena MRV, in the second leg of their quarter-final. The first leg at the Mineirão ended 1-1, meaning another draw on Tuesday, at any scoreline, will send the tie straight to a penalty shootout with no extra time played.
The Copa do Brasil is Brazil's main domestic knockout cup, organised by the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) alongside the Campeonato Brasileiro league and continental competitions such as the Copa Libertadores, in which Cruzeiro also scored a penalty this year.
Across all penalties taken by both clubs in 2026, including shootouts, Atlético-MG have the superior conversion rate. The club has taken 12 penalties this season and scored 10, a success rate of 83.3%. Cruzeiro have scored seven of their nine penalties, a rate of 77.8%.
Atlético-MG's 2026 penalty record
Atlético-MG arrive at the derby with two positive experiences in penalty shootouts this season, winning both by a 4-2 scoreline, against América and Ceará.
In the Campeonato Mineiro against América, Atlético-MG converted four of their five penalties. The only player to miss was defender Junior Alonso, while goalkeeper Everson played a decisive role, saving two of América's penalties.
The same pattern repeated against Ceará in the Copa do Brasil. Atlético-MG again converted four of five penalties to win the shootout 4-2. This time Alexsander was the only player to miss, and Everson again saved two penalties from the opposition.
In those two shootouts alone, Atlético-MG scored eight of 10 penalties, an 80% conversion rate. Adding penalties awarded during matches, the total rises to 10 scored from 12 attempts, or 83.3%.
Of the penalties taken during matches, Maycon was responsible for both of Atlético-MG's spot kicks this season and scored both. He converted against Cruzeiro in a 3-1 win in the Campeonato Brasileiro, and against Mirassol, also in the Brasileirão.
Everson, meanwhile, has conceded three penalty goals in matches in 2026: to Ronaldo Tavares for Athletic, to Alex Silva for Ceará, and to Kaio Jorge for Cruzeiro. He made up for it in the two shootouts, saving four penalties in total.
Cruzeiro's numbers this season
Cruzeiro have taken nine penalties in matches this season and converted seven. Kaio Jorge has taken most of them, scoring against América, Mirassol, Atlético-MG and Goiás, and twice against Chapecoense. Matheus Pereira also converted a penalty against Universidad Católica in the Copa Libertadores.
Cruzeiro's two misses both came in a friendly against Grêmio on 12 July. Gabriel Pec and Kaio Jorge both missed their penalties as Cruzeiro lost 3-1.
That leaves Cruzeiro with seven scored from nine attempts, a conversion rate of 77.8%. Counting only official competitive matches, however, the club has yet to miss a penalty this season, scoring all seven it has taken.
Cruzeiro's goalkeepers have conceded six penalty goals in the matches counted. Cássio was beaten by Romário of Pouso Alegre; Matheus Cunha by Kevin Viveros of Athletico-PR and by Jonathan Calleri of São Paulo; and Otávio by Maycon of Atlético-MG, by Luciano Juba of Bahia and by Reinaldo of Mirassol. Otávio also conceded a penalty to Matheus Nascimento in the friendly against Grêmio, taking the total to seven once that non-competitive match is included.
What's at stake
The overall figures put Atlético-MG ahead of Cruzeiro on penalty conversion for the 2026 season. The club also carries two shootout wins from two this year, both by 4-2, plus Everson's four saves across those two shootouts.
Atlético-MG and Cruzeiro are fierce rivals from Belo Horizonte, the capital of the state of Minas Gerais, with matches between them known locally as the Clássico Mineiro. Cruzeiro's home ground is the Mineirão, while Atlético-MG play at the Arena MRV, the venue for Tuesday's second leg.
Both clubs enter the game level in the race for a semi-final place. The first leg in Belo Horizonte finished 1-1, so whichever side wins in normal time on Tuesday will advance to the semi-finals.
Should the match end level again, regardless of the score, the tie will be decided directly by penalties, without extra time being played. Beyond staying in contention for the title, the winner will collect four million reais in prize money from the CBF. The winner will face Grêmio or Internacional in the semi-finals.
