Soccer

With Flamengo, Brazil leads curious statistic in the Club World Cup

Mengão entered the field with many players of other nationalities, but Brazilians still make up the majority in the FIFA tournament

Brazil leads the ranking of players on the field at the Club World Cup; Flamengo among the highest average ages - Photo: Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo
Brazil leads the ranking of players on the field at the Club World Cup; Flamengo among the highest average ages - Photo: Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo

19 Jun 2025 | 19:21 |

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With the end of the first round, where Flamengo made their debut with a victory , of the Club World Cup, FIFA released a series of statistics about the beginning of the tournament. And Brazil stands out in one of the main categories: it was the country with the largest number of players on the field , with 70 athletes representing different clubs on the United States pitches . Next comes Argentina, with 57 players, and Spain, with 26. In total, athletes of 66 nationalities participated in the opening round.


TOP 10 NATIONALITIES ON THE FIELD IN THE 1ST ROUND
  1. Brazil: 70
  2. Argentina: 57
  3. Spain: 26
  4. Portugal: 25
  5. France: 24
  6. England: 19
  7. United States: 17
  8. Mexico and Germany: 16
  9. South Africa and Morocco: 15
SCORERS: ARGENTINA AND FRANCE AT THE TOP


Despite leading in terms of number of players, Brazil was behind in terms of number of goals scored. Argentina and France lead the rankings, with eight goals each. Portugal and Germany are close behind with five. Brazil is tied with Spain, with three goals. Other countries that scored at least one goal were: Uruguay (2), Mexico, Belgium, Turkey, Japan, Israel, USA, Austria, South Africa, South Korea and England (1 goal each).


GENERAL NUMBERS OF THE 1ST ROUND
  • Goals scored: 44 (average of 2.75 per game)
  • Total audience: 556,369 people
  • Largest crowd: 80,619 fans at PSG 4-0 Atlético de Madrid at the Rose Bowl
  • Fastest goal: Phil Foden (Manchester City), 1min51s
  • Youngest goalscorer: Senny Mayulu (PSG) – 19 years and 29 days
  • Oldest goalscorer: Sergio Ramos (Monterrey) – 39 years and 79 days
  • Youngest player on the pitch: Lennart Karl (Bayern) – 17 years and 113 days
  • Oldest on the field: Fábio (Fluminense) – 44 years and 260 days
FLAMENGO AMONG THE MOST EXPERIENCED TEAMS

FIFA also highlighted the average age of the teams at the start of the season. Flamengo has the fourth highest average age: 30 years , tied with Inter Milan. The youngest team in the first round was Red Bull Salzburg, with an average age of 22.7 years. Clubs with the highest average age:


  1. Fluminense and Ulsan Hyundai: 31.2 years
  2. Monterrey: 30.9
  3. River Plate: 30.5
  4. Flamengo and Inter Milan: 30.0



Soccer

Corinthians responds to alleged interest in Flamengo's Michael

Mengão striker was speculated at Alvinegro due to lack of space at the current club and the São Paulo board opens up about the rumor

After negotiation rumors, Corinthians denies interest in Flamengo's Michael - Photo: Adriano Fontes/Flamengo
After negotiation rumors, Corinthians denies interest in Flamengo's Michael - Photo: Adriano Fontes/Flamengo

02 Out 2025 | 17:00 |

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Without a place alongside Filipe Luís at Flamengo, striker Michael 's name has once again been speculated on the transfer market . This time, he was mentioned as a possible Corinthians reinforcement for 2026. However, the information is untrue. According to Corinthians' board, there has been no contact with the player . The athlete's contract with the Rubro-Negro is valid until December 2028. This information comes from the MundoBola Flamengo portal.


CONTROVERSIAL PASSAGE


Michael returned to Flamengo in 2024, at Tite's request, after a remarkable stint in 2021, when he shone in the final stretch of the season . In his return, he scored against Red Bull Bragantino at Maracanã, but suffered an injury that kept him out of action for a period.


With Tite's departure, he had opportunities under Filipe Luís, including starting in the Copa do Brasil final against Atlético-MG. However, by 2025, he had lost his place. His last match was a 1-1 draw against Los Angeles FC in the Club World Cup group stage.

After that, he was included in matches against Grêmio, Juventude, and Estudiantes, but didn't make it off the bench . He wasn't even included against Vasco, and in the Libertadores Cup, he was sidelined due to ankle pain, specifically against Corinthians.


FRUSTRATED NEGOTIATION WITH SAUDI FOOTBALL

Before being linked with Corinthians , Michael almost left Flamengo in July. The club received an offer from Al-Ula of Saudi Arabia for a one-year loan: $2.5 million (approximately R$14 million), with a purchase option set at $4 million (approximately R$22.5 million). The deal, however, fell through, and the striker remained with Flamengo, despite his declining performance under Filipe Luís.


Soccer

Where will Flamengo's game be broadcast today? Check out the match details.

Mais Querido faces the Minas Gerais team with sold-out tickets and four players suspended; a game valid for the 26th round of the Brasileirão.

Flamengo hosts Cruzeiro at Maracanã with tickets sold out and four players suspended from the starting lineup - photo: reproduction
Flamengo hosts Cruzeiro at Maracanã with tickets sold out and four players suspended from the starting lineup - photo: reproduction

02 Out 2025 | 16:15 |

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Flamengo faces Cruzeiro this Thursday (2), at 8:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, in a direct confrontation for the leadership of the Brazilian Championship. The match, valid for the 26th round, will not be broadcast on open TV ; SporTV will show it on subscription TV and Premiere on pay-per-view.


Coach Filipe Luís will be without Erick Pulgar, who is still recovering from surgery on his right foot. Additionally, four players are on suspension: Léo Pereira, Alex Sandro, Allan, and Arrascaeta. If any of them receive a yellow card, they will miss the 27th round against Bahia.


SITUATION IN THE TABLE


Flamengo leads the Brasileirão with 54 points, followed by Palmeiras, with 52, and Cruzeiro, with 50. The direct confrontation does not change the leadership of Rubro-Negro , but it can increase or reduce the advantage at the top of the table, making the duel a true "six-point" game.

TICKETS SOLD OUT


The Maracanã will be packed once again. Tickets are already sold out, and the nation is preparing a huge party at the stadium . Ticket sales began on September 2nd, with priority given to members, and opened to the general public on September 18th.

PROBABLE LINEUP

The team led by Filipe Luís should take to the field: Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira (Danilo) and Alex Sandro; Jorginho, Saúl and Arrascaeta; Gonzalo Plata (Carrascal), Samuel Lino and Pedro.


Soccer

Check out Cruzeiro's likely lineup against Flamengo in the Brasileirão

Raposa arrives in Rio de Janeiro with an almost complete team to face Mengão in a direct clash for the competition title

Check out Cruzeiro's likely lineup to face Flamengo in the Brasileirão - Photo: Reproduction/Cruzeiro
Check out Cruzeiro's likely lineup to face Flamengo in the Brasileirão - Photo: Reproduction/Cruzeiro

02 Out 2025 | 15:21 |

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Flamengo and Cruzeiro face each other this Thursday (2), at 8:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, in a match valid for the 26th round of the Brazilian Championship . The Minas Gerais team is looking for a victory to shorten the distance to the leader, while Rubro-Negro wants to open up an advantage at the top of the table.


PROBABLE LINEUP FOR CRUZEIRO


Coach Leonardo Jardim should send onto the field a Cruzeiro team with : Cássio; William, Fabrício Bruno, Villalba, Kaiki; Lucas Romero, Lucas Silva, Matheus Pereira; Christian, Matheus Henrique (Arroyo) and Kaio Jorge.


CRUZEIRO'S SHORTAGES

Coach Leonardo Jardim will have three confirmed absences: full-back Fagner is out of the match as he recovers from a fractured tibia . Forward Wanderson will not play due to lower back pain. Defender Jonathan Jesus will also be absent due to a right knee injury.


CRUZEIRO REINFORCEMENTS

In compensation, the coach will have some key returns: Gabigol , formerly of Flamengo, returns after serving a suspension but is expected to start on the bench . Villalba returns after a suspension. Sinisterra has recovered from a muscle injury and has been included in the squad.

HOW FLAMENGO ARRIVES

On the Flamengo side, Filipe Luís has only one confirmed absence: Erick Pulgar, recovering from surgery on his right foot . The Chilean midfielder is expected to be available again in October. The Flamengo vs. Cruzeiro match will be broadcast on SporTV (pay TV) and Premiere (pay-per-view).



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