Cruzeiro and São Paulo face each other again in the final of the São Paulo Junior Football Cup after 19 years. in a duel that featured several athletes who achieved success in football.
On that occasion, the match ended 1-1 in normal time. The team from Minas Gerais won 6-5 in the penalty shootout, winning that season’s title.
Among the young people who became champions, goalkeeper Rafael stood out in goal. Now 36 years old, the athlete played for Cruzeiro’s professional team between 2008 and 2020.
If in that competition Rafael got the better of Tricolor Paulista, where he arrived in 2023.
“God of defense” Cupinha champion
Another champion for Cruzeiro was defender Maicon. The defender stood out for Porto, in Portugal, and, in Europe, he also played for Galatasaray, in Türkiye.
Like goalkeeper Rafael, Maicon is another champion for Cruzeiro who defended São Paulo. He has also worn the shirts of Vasco and Santos, and currently plays for Coritiba.
Striker Guilherme was the reference of that team. After the title, he was promoted to the Raposa first team and, two years later, transferred to Dinamo Kiev, in Ukraine.
Guilherme was on the Libertadores champion squad for Atlético-MG in 2013, and also played for other traditional teams, such as Corinthians, Bahia and Fluminense.
In the runner-up squad with São Paulo, defender Aislan moved up to the professionals in 2008, remaining until 2010. The athlete played for Vasco for two seasons and played for several clubs in Brazil, such as Náutico, Madureira and Tupi-MG.
Vice for São Paulo and the drama in Germany
Defender Breno formed São Paulo’s defense duo in the 2007 Copinha final. After standing out at Tricolor, becoming Brazilian champion that year, he transferred to the powerful Bayern Munich.
In Germany, Breno was sentenced to almost four years in prison, accused of setting fire to his own house. During this period, he came to work at the Bávaro club after gaining the right to serve his sentence in the semi-open regime.
After the personal drama, Breno returned to Morumbis in 2015 and, two years later, transferred to Vasco, where he stayed until his early retirement from the game due to serious career injuries.
Former player Bruno César was responsible for missing the decisive penalty for São Paulo in the decision of that Copinha. In addition to Tricolor, he also defended Corinthians and Palmeiras in São Paulo football.
Bruno César also wore Vasco’s shirt and came to stand out in Portuguese football. He played for Benfica, between 2011 and 2013, and Sporting, between 2016 and 2018.
