Fluminense Are Kings Of America After Winning The Copa Libertadores

The dust has finally settled on Saturday night’s rollercoaster ride of a Copa Libertadores Final.

Fluminense won the game in dramatic fashion by defeating Boca Juniors 2-1 in extra time at Rio de Janerio’s world famous Maracaná stadium. The Brazilian side were presented with the trophy and a giant check for $21 million after their victory.

This prize money will be a massive boost for the Rio de Janeiro club, who with their win on Saturday night have also qualified for the 2024 Copa Libertadores. This guarantees them at least another $3 million from next seasons campaign.

Fluminense are also going to cash in on a couple of their top talents. Midfielder André looks set to head to the Premier League for over $30 million and centre-half Nino is set to be the next Brazilian addition to Nottingham Forest’s dressing room, having reportedly agreed a deal with the midlands club.

Both England-bound Brazilians are now involved in their national team set up too, where the interim-coach is their Fluminense club manager; Fernando Diniz.

Diniz may have celebrated taking Fluminense to a first ever continental title on Saturday night but on Monday morning he was back in work mode, announcing his latest Brazil squad. The latest group of players included future Real Madrid star Endrick. He is the youngest man to receive a call up for Brazil since Ronaldo Nazario in the 90’s, no pressure!

Germán Cano of Argentina opened the scoring for Fluminense, his 13th of the tournament and 7th of the knock-out rounds. The Argentine has been sensational this year and after a difficult start to his career he has found his shooting boots. He made a big impact for Independiente Medellín in Colombia before starring for Vasco da Gama and Fluminense in Brazil.

Boca equalised through their Peruvian wing-back Luis Advíncula, who impressed this campaign with four Libertadores goals of his own, but in extra time young Brazilian striker John Kennedy made a stunning impact from the bench, smashing Fluminense into the lead and sending the whole city into delirium.

In the madness of the moments after he had scored, Kennedy ran the length of the pitch to jump into the Fluminense fans. He was already on a yellow card. It wasn’t a smart move from the youngster, from hero to zero in seconds he was dismissed from the game with an obvious second yellow.

Thankfully for Kennedy his stupidity was usurped completely by Boca’s Colombian left-back Frank Fabra. Boca were a goal down but a man up after Kennedy’s exit. They really could have changed the game, but instead Fabra needlessly struck out at Fluminense captain Nino and inevitably saw red. The Brazilians breathed a sigh of relief and saw out the game.

Despite his petulance Kennedy would end up a hero, and his goal was worthy of winning any final. It was later revealed that he sent his agent a message the day before the game saying that he would score the winner, that he knew it was his final to win.

Things have gone the opposite way for Boca. Despite their army of fans providing spectacular noise and colour in Rio, the team returned to Buenos Aires devastated in defeat. Young star Valentín Barco looks set for a move to Brighton and manager Jorge Almirón has since been shown the club’s exit door.

For Boca a famous Libertadores title would have completely turned around what has been a poor season domestically. However defeat has shown a stark contrast to such wishful thinking. The reality now is that their season has been a poor one, and they could have nothing to show for it. Perhaps not even a Copa Libertadores place next year. That would be morally and financially crushing for a club of Boca’s size and stature.

Fluminense’s victory means Brazilian sides have won the last 5 Copa Libertadores in a row. Argentina have still won 25 in total to Brazil’s 23 but the tide has been turning recently and Brazil have been taking over. The biggest economy in South America is now dominating its club football too, and it doesn’t look like that is about to change, if anything they are widening the gap.