Journalist compares Juninho to a champion striker with Flamengo

Vasco eliminated Botafogo on penalties and secured a place in the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil last Thursday (11). But, in addition to qualifying, the one who caught attention was Matheus França, ex-Flamengo , who converted his penalty and went viral with an unexpected reaction.

THE GESTURE THAT HAD AN IMPACT

After scoring, the 21-year-old midfielder began kissing Vasco's crest . However, he stopped mid-motion, as if remembering his roots. On social media, Vasco fans were unforgiving, joking that "the Gávea native's reflexes spoke louder ."

ARRIVAL AT VASCO

Matheus França recently arrived at Vasco da Gama after being traded by Flamengo to Crystal Palace (ENG). During his presentation, he avoided naming the team that introduced him: " Everyone knows my trajectory, my beginnings at the rival club , but the most important thing is to focus here at Vasco."

TRAJECTORY AT FLAMENGO

Revealed at Ninho do Urubu, França emerged as one of the brightest prospects in the club's youth academy . He didn't play a regular season as a professional, but he was part of the squad that won the Libertadores and Copa do Brasil in 2022.

WHEN WILL THE NEXT CLASSIC BE?

The reunion could happen soon. This is because Flamengo and Vasco face each other in the 24th round of the Brasileirão, on September 21 , at 5:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã. But before that, Mais Querido faces Juventude this Sunday (14), at 4 pm, in the Brazilian Championship.

Bruno Henrique's 12-game suspension , initially valid only for the Brazilian Championship, may extend beyond national borders . The ruling in the first instance trial at the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) calls for a letter to be sent to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) requesting that the suspension be extended to FIFA at the end of the trial.

LEGAL BASIS FOR THE EXTENSION

The court's prosecutor suggested internationalizing Bruno Henrique 's sentence based on two regulations:

• Article 70.1 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (2025): “If the infringement is serious, (...) the associations, confederations and other sports organizing bodies must request the Disciplinary Committee to extend the sanctions imposed so that they have worldwide effect (worldwide extension).”
• Article 140 of the CBF General Competition Regulations (2025): “Illegal conduct (...) is also subject to the application of minimum sanctions (...) in line with those provided for in the FIFA Disciplinary Code , as well as the sanctions provided for in the Brazilian Football Code of Ethics and Conduct.”

The rapporteur of the case, Dr. Alcino Guedes, accepted the suggestion. During the trial, he emphasized that it would make no sense to limit the punishment to Brazil alone : "It would make no sense if the punishments applied were disregarded outside Brazil, as a free pass for the accused to act freely in another country, especially given the gravity of the disciplinary infractions committed."

OFFICE DEPENDS ON FINAL JUDGMENT

Despite the ruling, the official letter to the CBF will only be sent after the second instance trial, a date yet to be set. Flamengo appealed to the STJD Plenary and also requested a stay of execution to release Bruno Henrique pending the conclusion of the case.

SITUATION IN THE LIBERTADORES

Even if the suspension isn't granted immediately, the forward is expected to be available to face Estudiantes in the Copa Libertadores next week. This is because the international ban can only be applied after the final ruling, which has yet to be announced.

The FIFA World Cup break has been valuable for Juninho, who took advantage of the period to intensify his training at Ninho do Urubu . The striker remains determined to earn a place in Filipe Luís's squad, seeing the window without games as a crucial moment for his consolidation.

FEATURED INTERNALLY

In training, Juninho has stood out for his dedication and constant improvement, attracting the attention of the coaching staff . The player seeks to seize every opportunity, hoping to be considered for more minutes throughout the season.

Despite the fierce competition in the squad, the striker remains confident he can earn his place. Juninho understands that Flamengo will have a marathon of commitments until the end of the year and believes he can become an important option for the coach in various scenarios.

Motivated, the young man emphasizes the importance of being ready to help whenever called upon. In addition to contributing offensively, he also makes himself available to assist defensively , reinforcing his desire to participate in the club's successes and consolidate his career with the club.

WHEN IS FLAMENGO'S NEXT GAME?

Flamengo returns to the field on Sunday (14), at 4 pm (Brasília time), to face Juventude, at Alfredo Jaconi Stadium , in Caxias do Sul, for the 23rd round of the Brazilian Championship. In the table, Rubro-Negro remains in isolated leadership with 47 points, closely followed by Cruzeiro (44) and Palmeiras (43).