Flamengo defeats Ceará and wins the Brazilian Championship for the ninth time in its history

NINE-TIME CHAMPIONS! For the ninth time in its history, Flamengo paints the whole country red and black by winning the 2025 Brasileirão title with one round to spare. Mengão beat Ceará 1-0 on Wednesday night (3), at Maracanã, with a goal by Samuel Lino. 

Already crowned champion, Mais Querido ends its victorious campaign in the Brasileiro against Mirassol this weekend. Before finishing the season, Rubro-Negro will still have the Copa Interclubes ahead, and debuts next Wednesday (10) against Cruz Azul, from Mexico. 

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The game

With the starting lineup of four-time Libertadores champions on the field, Flamengo began the match working the ball from foot to foot in search of an attack. The first good chance came just three minutes in, when Jorginho tried a shot from outside the area and the goalkeeper made the save. With a series of passes, the red-and-black team threatened again in the 9th minute. Bruno Henrique headed the ball on, Carrascal attempted a shot, and the ball went wide. 

While Flamengo attempted to attack, Ceará remained deep in defense, reducing the space to work the ball and waiting to counter-attack. Much more present in attack, the red-and-black team completely dominated their opponent, who could only defend. 

Until the 36th minute, Flamengo managed to break through the lines and open the scoring. Samuel Lino infiltrated the area, received a pass from Carrascal and shot across goal to find the back of the net: 1-0. Celebration from the Nation at the Maracanã, who were already chanting "we will be champions". It was a good first half for Flamengo, who despite creating few chances, had ample control of the game, pressuring Ceará in their own half.

Flamengo returned unchanged for the second half and continued to prioritize possession in the attacking third. In the 10th minute, Danilo launched a ball into the area and Arrascaeta volleyed it, but the ball went over the crossbar. Moments later, the number 10 from Gávea delivered a perfect pass to Bruno Henrique, who entered the area and shot across goal, forcing a save from the goalkeeper.

Shortly after the 15-minute mark, coach Filipe Luís made two substitutions. Samuel Lino and Arrascaeta were replaced by Cebolinha and Plata. In one of the first plays, Cebolinha passed to Jorginho, who took a placed shot aiming for the corner, and the ball went very close to the post. 

With the victory secured and the game under control, Flamengo managed possession in the final minutes. In the 44th minute, Cebolinha took a beautiful shot from outside the area, and the ball went just wide of the post. In stoppage time, Flamengo exchanged passes in the attacking half and waited for the final whistle to celebrate their ninth Brazilian title in history. Celebrations in the favela, in Brazil, and all over the world!!

Flamengo

Rossi; Varela, Danilo, Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro; Erick Pulgar, Jorginho (De La Cruz) and Arrascaeta (Plata); Carrascal (Luiz Araújo), Samuel Lino (Everton Cebolinha) and Bruno Henrique (Saúl).
Coach: Filipe Luís.

Ceará

Bruno Ferreira; Fabiano Souza, Marcos Victor and Éder; Rafael Ramos, Dieguinho (Lucas Mugni), Fernando Sobral (Lourenço) and Zanocelo (Vina); Galeano, Paulo Baya (Fernandinho) and Pedro Raul.
Coach: Léo Condé. 

Week's agenda

The nine-time Brazilian champion returns to the field next Sunday (7) to face Mirassol, at 16 pm, at the Maião stadium, for the last round of the national competition.

Technical sheet

Flamengo 1-0 Ceará – Brazilian Championship | Round 37
Location: Maracanã, RJ
Date and time: 03/12/2025 at 21:30 am
Referees: Rodrigo José Pereira de Lima (PE), Rafael da Silva Alves (RS) and Thiaggo Americano Labes (SC)
Goal: Samuel Lino (36'1st half).