Soccer
Flamengo's rival, Estudiantes, has one of the cheapest teams in the Libertadores knockout stages.
18 Set 2025 | 16:59
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Soccer
26 Jun 2024 | 08:14 |
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This Wednesday (26) Flamengo returns to Caxias do Sul, in Rio Grande do Sul, to face Juventude in the Brasileirão. This confrontation doesn't happen that often in the history of the two teams and it's worth remembering one of them, 25 years ago.
It was in Caxias do Sul that the relationship between Romário and Flamengo came to an end. Younger people may not know, but Baixinho was fired from Rubro-Negro in November 1999, after a 3-1 defeat to Juventude, in the Brasileirão, followed by a visit to the famous Festa da Uva and partying in concentration. The incident marked the troubled end of his time at the Rio club.
Romário arrived at Flamengo in 1995, as the main attraction of the club's centenary. Voted best player in the world and responsible for Brazil's fourth world championship in 1994, Baixinho had the world at his feet and decided to don the Sacred Mantle and return to his beloved Rio de Janeiro. In total, there were 241 games and 204 goals scored. On the field, Shirt 11 did his job. And outside of that, he was the protagonist of a series of confusions.
Romário had three spells at Flamengo (1995/96 – 1997 – 1998/99). In the last one, he arrived from Valencia in January 1998 and stayed until the infamous game with Juventude, on November 10, 1999, for the Brasileirão. The biggest star of that generation and hero of the four, Baixinho didn't like to give satisfaction to anyone. And he rarely did. His attitude has always been one of independence and self-confidence, characteristics that both helped and harmed him.
After the 3-1 defeat at Alfredo Jaconi, in which he scored the red-black goal, Romário decided that he would visit the Grape Festival. He took with him full-backs Maurinho and Fábio Baiano and striker Leandro Machado. According to Maurinho's report, in 2023, everyone was free to leave, but some did not respect the time to return. The nighttime getaway ended up becoming one of the most controversial moments in Romário's career.
According to the former Flamengo full-back, the visit to the Festa da Uva did not yield any results. nothing more than a few hugs, smiles and posing for photos. Maurinho assured that nothing much happened that night, but other reports show that it was not quite like that. An article in IstoÉ magazine, on November 24, 1999, revealed that the case was much more serious. The reports at the time showed a scene of parties and excesses that went against the club's rules.
Upon returning to the Reynolds Hotel, the real party began. According to the IstoÉ report, six girls from the nightclubs Madrigal, in Porto Alegre, and Cassino, in Caxias do Sul, were taken to a “private event”. Around ten players from the squad participated in the party. In times before cell phones and social networks, the scandal exploded on the pages of newspapers and on television programs. The repercussion was immediate and negative, affecting the image of everyone involved.
Romário, as expected, did not deny that he participated in the party. Away from the group that stayed in Rio Grande do Sul to play a selective Copa Libertadores tournament, Baixinho arrived in Rio saying that he had left and that he would continue leaving. President Edmundo Santos Silva confirmed the decision to send the star away, unless Romário apologized, which he did not happen. Camisa 11 ended up signing with Vasco, where he stayed until 2002.
From the episode in Caxias do Sul, there was the famous photo with the Queen of the Grape Festival, Fabiana Koch, from Caxias, who graduated as a dentist and was at the center of a request for impeachment by the mayor of Caxias, Flávio Cassina, in 2020. Romário's dismissal from Flamengo marked the end of an era at the club and highlighted the complexities of managing a player with a strong personality and undeniable talent.
Defender hangs up his boots at 38 and says he is satisfied with his career, despite not having been able to play for Mengão
18 Set 2025 | 19:00 |
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Defender Gil, 38, has officially announced his retirement from professional football. In an interview with TV Record, the former defender confirmed the end of his playing career: " A new phase, I'm retiring from football. It's decided ."
Gil, ex-Corinthians, when declaring retirement: "the only thing missing was playing for Flamengo"
Gil built a remarkable relationship with Corinthians , a club he played for twice. Between 2013 and 2016, he was a key player in Tite's squad, crowning the period with the 2015 Brazilian Championship title . He returned to Corinthians in 2019 and, during his second stint, reached the impressive milestone of 400 appearances for the club.
Despite his solid history at Corinthians, Gil revealed a dream he never fulfilled: playing for Flamengo . " I did everything I wanted, the only thing missing was playing for Flamengo . Not everything is perfect. I'm grateful for the career I've built," he declared.
The final chapter of his career was at Santos, where he played in the 2024 Série B. The defender played an important role in the club's promotion to Série A , but lost his place in the squad and terminated his contract in August of the same year. Shortly thereafter, he decided to hang up his boots.
Having also played in Chinese football and enjoyed a solid career in Brazil, Gil ended his career as one of the greatest defenders of the last decade , recognized for his consistency, physical strength, and leadership on the field. In total, the former player appeared in 865 matches, scoring 43 goals and contributing 15 assists.
The red-black team faces the Argentines this Thursday (18), at 9:30 pm, at Maracanã, for the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals
18 Set 2025 | 18:30 |
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Flamengo takes to the field this Thursday (18), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), to face Estudiantes, at Maracanã, for the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores. Coach Filipe Luís is betting on full strength to try to open up an advantage before the decision in Argentina.
Coach Filipe Luís is expected to field a full-strength squad against the Argentines: Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, and Ayrton Lucas; Saúl, De La Cruz, and Arrascaeta; Plata, Pedro, and Samuel Lino. The game will be broadcast live on Flamengo TV and with exclusive footage on ESPN.
Alex Sandro (calf) and Jorginho (thigh) are still recovering and are working individually on the field. Pulgar is also in the transition phase with physical therapy and is expected to return to training with the group only at the end of September.
Mengão idol, Uruguayan is having a goalscoring season and will be an important player in the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals against Argentina
18 Set 2025 | 18:00 |
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Increasingly established as a Flamengo idol, Giorgian De Arrascaeta is enjoying one of the finest moments of his career. Since donning the iconic No. 10 jersey in December 2024 , the Uruguayan has taken center stage in the Flamengo midfield.
With 18 goals and 13 assists this season, he has already equaled his highest-scoring year since arriving in Rio de Janeiro and could achieve the best performance of his professional career. The midfielder will be one of coach Filipe Luís's main weapons in this Thursday's duel (18), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã , for the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals.
In addition to Arrascaeta's key role, Flamengo will have reinforcements in its squad. Léo Ortiz, Varela, and Bruno Henrique are available to face Estudiantes . Meanwhile, Alex Sandro and Jorginho remain doubtful and will have their fitness assessed shortly before the match.
Eduardo Domínguez's team will be without González Pirez and Edwuin Cetré, both injured. Even so, 27 players were selected for the match in Rio de Janeiro, and the final training session took place at Fluminense's training center in Rio's West Zone . The Argentine team reached the quarterfinals after defeating Cerro Porteño 1-0 on aggregate.
FLAMENGO (Coach: Filipe Luis): Rossi; Varela (Emerson Royal), Leo Ortiz, Leo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas (Viña); Saul, De La Cruz (Jorginho) and Arrascaeta; Plata, Pedro and Samuel Lino.
ESTUDIATES (Coach: Eduardo Domínguez): Muslera; Román Gómez, Santiago Núñez, Facundo Rodríguez and Santiago Arzamendia; Ascacíbar, Gabriel Neves, Amondarain and Medina; Tiago Palacios and Guido Carrillo.
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