In itself, the Libertadores title is beyond relevant. With him, the team becomes the best in South America. For a year, it is the one on the continent.
Botafogo got there on Saturday (30), defeating Atlético-MG 3-1 in an impressive and heroic way, with one less player (Gregore, sent off) from the first minute, at the Monumental de Núñez stadium, in Buenos Aires. , stage of the final.
The importance of the achievement for the black and white team is immense. Change your condition, change your level. It makes the club too big.
Football is entertainment, passion and rivalry – a lot of rivalry, especially at the local level.
One of the fun of sport is, in the family, at work and with friends and acquaintances, capitalizing on the success of the team you support and/or gloating over the misfortune of others.
Among the greats in Rio, only Botafogo had not won the Libertadores. Flamengo has three (1981, 2019, 2022), and Vasco (1998) and Fluminense (2023), one each.
Now, there is no reason for black and white fans to feel inferior in this regard, at least in comparison with two of the biggest rivals, which is already significant.
Botafogo became the 12th club in Brazil to have at least one Libertadores. In addition to Flamengo, Grêmio, Palmeiras, Santos and São Paulo have won the competition three times; twice, Cruzeiro and Internacional; once, Atlético-MG, Corinthians, Fluminense and Vasco.
Returning to the regionalized rivalry in football, Atletico’s fans are doubly disappointed with Saturday’s defeat, and Cruzeiro’s fans are doubly satisfied.
The blue part of Belo Horizonte, which the previous week was saddened by the fall in the Copa Sudamericana decision – Racing, from Argentina, won 3-1 in Paraguay –, remains ahead of the black and white in cups of the most coveted South American tournament.
Returning to Botafogo, the Libertadores title allows him to participate in two other competitions, one this year and another in 2025. Both organized by the highest football entity.
The first is the newly created FIFA Intercontinental Cup, with the participation of six teams (one from Asia; one from Africa; one from South America; one from Central and North America and the Caribbean; one from Europe; one from Oceania) , which replaces the Club World Cup.
In Qatar, the Rio team will face Pachuca, from Mexico, in the quarter-finals, on the 11th. If they win, they will play in the semi-final against Al Ahly, from Egypt, on the 14th. If they pass, their opponent for the title, on the 18, it is Real Madrid, current Champions League champion, who, unfairly privileged, appears in the decision without having to face anyone first.
Intercontinental Cup, among the locals, the only one that has it is Flamengo, which with Zico and company triumphed against Liverpool in 1981, in Japan. Traditional (lasted from 1960 to 2004), this competition was not from FIFA, but received its approval and is holds world title status.
A world title that Botafogo will compete for in the middle of next year, when the new FIFA World Cup will be held, which has been called the Supermundial due to the format of the World Cup for national teams – those held from 1998 to 2022 –, with 32 clubs.
From Brazil, Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, winners of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Libertadores, respectively, will also participate.
Before the Intercontinental Cup, and well before the Supermundial, Botafogo will attempt another feat in the coming days: winning the Brazilian Championship. With two rounds remaining, they lead with a three-point advantage over Palmeiras.
It would be the third time that the team won the main national competition – the others were in 1968, still as Taça Brasil, with Jairzinho in attack and Zagallo at the drawing board, and in 1995, under the leadership of top scorer Túlio Maravilha.
A great chance to get closer to Vasco and Fluminense, who have four Brazilians each. Flamengo is well ahead, with seven.
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