Flamengo are the 2026 Carioca champions after overcoming Fluminense in a penalty shootout, where Rossi proved to be the hero with two crucial saves. The victory marks the first title for new manager Leonardo Jardim, who took over from Filipe LuÃs prior to the match.
Throughout the contest, Fluminense appeared as the more cohesive unit, displaying clearer tactical ideas and a stronger team spirit under manager ZubeldÃa. Facing them was a Flamengo side brimming with individual talent that Jardim will necessitate to quickly mold, with little time to spare given the demanding schedule ahead.
Flu exposed a clear need for a consistent striker, as Kennedy often found himself isolated against the opposing defenders and lacked the finishing touch needed to capitalize on numerous crosses into the box. The recent arrival of Castillo, the club’s most expensive signing ever, is expected to address this issue.
Fluminense’s dominance grew as the match progressed, and in the second half, they were the only side generating significant danger. The introduction of Paquetá, Éverton, and later Plata failed to spark a turnaround. Neither Lino, Pedro, nor De Arrascaeta reached their expected levels, resulting in a lackluster performance from Flamengo – a stark contrast to their form in 2025. Only Fluminense’s lack of clinical finishing kept Flamengo in the game during the 90 minutes.
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In the penalty shootout, Fluminense initially took the lead with a save from Fabio, but Flamengo quickly recovered with a perfect record from the spot, capitalizing on missed attempts by Guga and Otávio, and a stellar performance from Rossi, who once again demonstrated his penalty-stopping prowess.
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