The first four-time champion in Brazilian football from South America is called Clube de Regatas do Flamengo. On this Saturday (29), the Rubro-Negro became the Brazilian team with the most Libertadores titles by defeating Palmeiras 1-0 at Estádio Monumental de U, in Lima (Peru).
The last year in which the status of the Brazilian team with the most tournament titles was held solely by one club was 2011. Santos won that edition and tied with São Paulo, which had been the only three-time champion since 2005.
Revenge
The victory had a taste of revenge for the rubro-negros, who lost the 2021 final to the Verdão itself at Estádio Centenário in Montevideo (Uruguay). On that occasion, the alviverde title came after a mistake by Andreas Pereira, then with the Carioca team, which attacker Deyverson capitalized on. The midfielder this time was on the Palmeiras side of the final, with a discreet performance.
The title crowns an extremely victorious generation that has lifted 16 trophies since 2019, including three Libertadores (2019, 2022, and 2025). All with the presence of midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta – voted the player of the tournament this year – and attacker Bruno Henrique. Both became the players with the most titles won with the club.
And they can add another trophy to that statistic on Wednesday (2). If the Carioca team beats Ceará at Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time), it will win the Brasileirão with one round to spare.
Arrascaeta and Bruno Henrique, by the way, celebrated a Libertadores title for the second time at the Monumental. It was there that they won the cup in 2019, in the final against River Plate (Argentina), the first in single-match format. Coach Filipe Luís – who became the ninth to win the South American tournament as both coach and player – and assistant Rodrigo Caio were also on the field in that decision, respectively as left-back and center-back for the team coached by Jorge Jesus.
The Match
The match started 15 minutes late due to the delay of the Palmeiras bus, which had trouble reaching the stadium because of Lima traffic. If Abel brought no changes to the alviverde lineup, it was different for Flamengo, with Samuel Lino winning the spot in the attack over Everton Cebolinha.
Once the ball was rolling, Flamengo started the match controlling the attacking field and closing spaces for Palmeiras. The Rubro-Negro had two good chances, one on each side. At the 14th minute, full-back Guillermo Varela launched Bruno Henrique behind the marking. The attacker shot from the edge of the box, but over the goal. In the next play, Samuel Lino received on the left, beat full-back Khellven’s marking, and fired a cross shot close to the left post of goalkeeper Carlos Miguel.
As time went on, the first half became more tense and foul-filled. There were four yellow cards before the 40th minute (three for Flamengo and one for Palmeiras). One of them, given to midfielder Erick Pulgar, sparked complaints from Verdão. The Chilean hit the shin of Bruno Fuchs with the game stopped, after a foul by the center-back in the previous play. The alviverdes players called for a red card, to no avail.
Palmeiras gradually tightened the marking and started to frequent Flamengo’s field, but without much effectiveness. The best chance was at the 20th, on a cross from Khellven from the right, which attacker Vitor Roque headed down, the ball bounced on the pitch and rose just past the crossbar.
The teams returned for the second half imposing pace and seeking more shots. Flamengo, just like in the first half, tried to dictate the rhythm. The Rubro-Negro’s better performance this time was rewarded.
At the 21st minute, Arrascaeta took a corner from the left, Danilo rose alone and headed into the right corner of Carlos Miguel. Fourteen years after scoring the title-winning goal for Santos against Peñarol (Uruguay), the center-back netted again in a Libertadores final. And once more in decisive fashion. The Verdão threw itself forward in search of a tie. At the 43rd minute, Vitor Roque had the best chance for the Paulista team in the match, following a header from center-back Gustavo Gómez blocked by the defense. The attacker finished in the six-yard box, but the ball deflected off Danilo and went out for a goal kick.
Cebolinha, who lost his starting spot to Samuel Lino, came on well and relieved the pressure Flamengo was under after the goal. In the final minutes, he pulled counterattacks and got the ball out of defense.
In stoppage time, he advanced at speed in a great play and was fouled just outside the box. On the free kick, he struck it low, Carlos Miguel couldn’t hold it, and the ball hit the left post. The near miss didn’t matter. The final whistle sparked the rubro-negro celebration in Lima, just like in 2019, in Rio de Janeiro, and in various corners of Brazil.
Source: Agência Brasil