Zico speaks with an optimistic tone about Flamengo reinforcements

The victory over Mirassol, last Saturday (09), kept Flamengo at the top of the Brasileirão and also guaranteed the club an expressive mark this season: more than 1 million tickets sold in 2025 .

With 60,331 paying spectators (64,018 in attendance) in the match valid for the 20th round, Rubro-Negro reached 1,037,365 fans in 23 home games this year . Of this total, 21 were played at Maracanã, while one took place in Aracaju and another in São Luís.

The survey, conducted by the 'Gato Mestre' portal, reinforces the strength of the Nação Rubro-Negra, which has closely followed the team led by Filipe Luís in pursuit of its season objectives. The Club World Cup was not included in the list.

BRANDS AND RECORDS IN 2025

Flamengo 's largest home crowd of the year was recorded in the Campeonato Carioca final, when 64,351 fans watched the goalless draw with Fluminense , securing the title for the "Mais Querido" (Most Beloved). The club also leads the rankings for average attendance in Brazil. In the Brasileirão alone, the average attendance exceeds 53,000 people per game, placing it in sole first place nationally.

NATION PUT ON A SHOW AGAIN AGAINST MIRASSOL

The match against Mirassol ranks eighth in Flamengo 's top 10 attendance figures for 2025. The list includes the Carioca match, six Brasileirão matches, two Libertadores matches, and one Copa do Brasil match. Considering only national championship matches, the victory over the São Paulo team ranks fourth in terms of paying attendance.

NEXT CHALLENGE

After securing three more points in the Brasileirão, Flamengo turns its focus to the Copa Libertadores . This Wednesday (13), Rubro-Negro faces Internacional, at Maracanã, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), for the first leg of the round of 16. The return match will be on the 20th, at Beira-Rio.

Flamengo beat Mirassol 2-1 on Saturday night (9), in a match valid for the 19th round of the Brazilian Championship. The result was achieved at Maracanã, the venue that will also host the first leg of the round of 16 of the Libertadores, scheduled for next Wednesday (13). With the triumph, Mais Querido maintains the rhythm in the national competition and still has a game in hand to increase its advantage in the table.

Mirassol striker Chico da Costa was one of the standout performers in the match and showed great respect for the Flamengo team after the setback. In a pitchside interview, the player highlighted the strength of Flamengo's squad , considered one of the best on the continent.

"Everyone knows it's very difficult to play here. [Flamengo] has the best squad not only in Brazil, but in the Americas [...] It's difficult to play against Flamengo, it's difficult to pressure Flamengo. When they get a lot of players close to the ball, they have a lot of combinations, and it ends up being difficult to mark so tightly throughout the game because of their pressure, right? They end up getting a lot of players close to each other, with passes, touches, and they can find the opposite side very quickly. This becomes frustrating, tiring, that's why it's so difficult," said Chico.

FLAMENGO STILL HAS A MATCH TO GO

In addition to the victory, coach Filipe Luís's team has a match pending against Sport in the 12th round of the Brazilian Championship, which was postponed due to the club's participation in the Club World Cup. The possibility of playing this match gives the Rubro-Negro an extra chance to widen their gap on their competitors and, who knows, confirm their lead in the tournament this weekend.

FLAMENGO'S FOCUS ON THE LIBERTADORES

Before continuing with the sequence in the Brasileirão, Flamengo already turns its attention to the Libertadores. On Wednesday (13), at 9:30 pm, at Maracanã, the team will face Internacional in the first match of the round of 16 of the continental competition.

Vinicius Júnior, one of the best players in the world today , remains strongly identified with Flamengo, the club that revealed him in 2017. At 25 years old, the striker frequently shows his affection for the Mais Querido , feeding the fans' dream of seeing him, one day, end his career at Gávea.

In recent days, it emerged that the number 7 could transfer to Manchester United for a staggering R$1.3 billion . In this scenario, Flamengo would profit 2.5% of the amount—approximately R$32.5 million—thanks to FIFA's solidarity mechanism.

FINAL DECISION

However, according to Spanish journalist Alberto Pereiro, Vini has already made his decision: he will remain at Real Madrid . The striker, who has the full support of the Merengue club, can renew his contract whenever he wishes, such is his importance to the team.

The move doesn't benefit Flamengo , which would see a huge amount of money flow into its coffers without having to make any moves. For now, the Brazilian will remain one of the Spanish giant's key players , alongside Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Federico Valverde.

FOCUS ON THE LIBERTADORES

Meanwhile, Flamengo maintains its lead in the Brasileirão after its victory over Mirassol and turns its attention to the Copa Libertadores . This Wednesday (13), the team led by Filipe Luís hosts Internacional at Maracanã, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), for the first leg of the round of 16.