Former Flamengo player Paolo Guerrero shines and makes history in the Libertadores

While Flamengo drew with LDU , Paolo Guerrero returned to the spotlight of South American football. A former Mengão striker, the 41-year-old veteran shone with the Alianza Lima jersey and made history in the Copa Libertadores. The "Predator", as he is affectionately known by Peruvians, became the oldest player to score two goals in a single match in the tournament , surpassing Chilean Edson Puch , who held the record at 38 years and 315 days .

The feat occurred in a 3-2 victory over Talleres from Argentina in the group stage of the continental competition. The result renewed Alianza Lima's hopes of advancing to the round of 16. Guerrero opened the scoring early in the match, scoring his first goal for the club in a Libertadores. Shortly after, he scored again and secured his name in the tournament's record books.

The striker's performance was highlighted by Mister Chip , a well-known South American football statistician. "The Peruvian player becomes the oldest player to score a double in the entire history of the Libertadores," he wrote on his social media. Another veteran also stood out in the match: Hernán Barcos . At 41 years old, the Argentine – who has played for Palmeiras , Grêmio and Cruzeiro – came off the bench to score the winning goal for Alianza Lima.

ARRIVAL WITH EXPECTATIONS AT FLAMENGO

Signed in 2015 with star status, Paolo Guerrero arrived at Flamengo after standing out at Corinthians and the Peruvian national team . Expectations were high, especially as he was one of the first major signings in the club's new financial phase.

During three seasons, Guerrero played 112 matches and scored 43 goals for Rubro-Negro. Despite the reasonable numbers, the striker fell short of expectations , mainly because he was the highest paid player in the squad at the time.

THE DIFFICULTIES IN MENGÃO

His time at Gávea was marked by a goal drought at decisive moments , such as in the classics against Vasco , in addition to frequent absences due to injuries , call-ups to the national team and, later, a suspension for doping , which sealed a troubled end to his time at Gávea. The lack of major titles also influenced the assessment of his legacy at the club.

In 2018, the striker left Flamengo for Internacional amid controversy and friction with the board, ending his career without establishing himself as an idol. Guerrero ended up being more of a symbol of the club's transition phase than a reference on the field.

Now, in a new phase of his career and wearing the shirt of the club where he was discovered, Paolo Guerrero continues to make history – this time as an example of longevity and leadership in South American football.