It’s Time For Botafogo

After years of waiting, dreaming, and working toward eternal glory, on December 30, 2024, Botafogo finally fulfilled its destiny and won la bendita Copa Libertadores!

The showdown, which took place at the Estadio Más Monumental, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was expected to follow a pretty direct script—with Atlético Mineiro holding their ground while Botafogo, the favorites, dominated and tried to break through Galo’s defense. 

However, as most of you might already know, in soccer, just as in everything, things don’t always go as planned. 

With that in mind, it’s safe to say that the Libertadores final went wildly off script from the very start, primarily due to the fact that Botafogo’s defensive midfielder, Gregore, received a red card for a reckless challenge with only 40 seconds of play, leaving the Glorious with only 10 men for the rest of the match. 

The result of this red card was a game that played out differently than anyone expected. What was supposed to be a Botafogo-dominated match saw Mineiro hold 80% of possession while completing nearly 500 more passes than the Glorious. 

Beyond the possession stats, the early red also changed how the game was played. Galo, now a man up, felt more comfortable attacking, and leaving space behind the defensive.

 On the other hand, most expected Botafogo to park the bus and hope for the best. The best didn’t happen.

Going against what most fans and pundits anticipated, Botafogo’s coach, the Portuguese Artur Jorge, didn’t throw away his offensive game plan. In fact, Jorge didn’t even make substitutions immediately after the red card.

This decision by the Portuguese coach was seen by some as brave, but by most as downright crazy. But remember, to achieve great things, to attain glory, the fear of losing cannot be greater than the desire to win. 

And Jorge’s decision to stick to the plan paid off. Tremendously.

At minute 35, a 10-man Botafogo opened the scoring with a perfectly placed left-footed close-range strike from Luiz Henrique.

The game’s opener was a shocker. Fans, players, and pundits couldn’t believe what was happening. How could a 10-man team be playing as equals in a Libertadores final?

 The answer to that question isn’t simple, as this kind of thing is something that has never been done before. 

What can be said is that Botafogo showed extraordinary mental strength, keeping their focus and refusing to give up even when all the odds were stacked against them. The game’s next crucial moment came late in the first half when a penalty was awarded to Botafogo after Luiz Henrique was fouled by Galo’s goalkeeper, Everson, inside the box. The spot kick was taken by former Manchester United and Brazil national team left-back Alex Telles, who fired a powerful shot into the bottom-right corner to make it 2-0. 

With this goal, Botafogo went into halftime two goals up and one man down—something that, for most, seemed impossible.

But the game wasn’t over yet.

As soon as the second half started, Atlético showed why they deserved to be there. Galo’s aggressive start was rewarded with a nicely placed header by Vargas to make it 2-1 with less than three minutes played in the second half.

Vargas’ goal gave Atlético a glimmer of hope, leading to an intense offensive vs. defensive battle between the two teams. The match from this point on was nothing but frustration for Galo and a showcase of Botafogo’s effective defensive organization.

This isn’t to say that Atlético didn’t have clear chances to tie the game.

Vargas, who had scored their only goal, would go on to miss two extremely clear scoring opportunities, making him one of Galo’s biggest antagonists for the night. 

With all their focus on offense, Atlético forgot one important thing: Botafogo’s firepower. And the moment you forget, the moment you stop paying attention—that’s when the crocodile strikes.

In the game’s dying moments, Botafogo executed a textbook counterattack. Junior Santos took on two defenders and attempted a pass to Matheus Martins. The ball ricocheted back to Santos, leaving him with an open goal. 

And as they say, shooters shoot, and when the shooter is as gifted as Junior Santos, they don’t miss. With this, the scoreline became 3-1, securing the title and epitomizing the team’s tactical and mental strength.

Soon after Santos’ goal, the referee blew the final whistle, crowning Botafogo champions of the Copa Libertadores—an obsession for the Glorious since the dawn of time. After 130 years of club history and multiple failed attempts, it finally happened. 

With this historic victory, Botafogo not only secured their place among the eternal hall of teams to conquer the continent but also qualified for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, joining fellow Brazilian clubs Fluminense, Palmeiras, and Flamengo.

While the match itself was a spectacle, the celebrations that followed were unforgettable. 

The Libertadores final set a new attendance record for the tournament’s single-game final era, with 72,000 fans packing Estadio Más Monumental. While the crowd was divided, it was overwhelmingly made up of Botafogo fans who fans, who created an electrifying and historic atmosphere. 

Millions more watched from Brazil, with Globo reporting the highest television ratings of 2024. Over 50,000 fans gathered at Botafogo’s stadium for a massive watch party.

Once the final whistle blew, celebrations erupted at immense levels. Fans flooded the streets of Rio de Janeiro, gathering around the stadium and then at General Severiano to dress the Manequinho statue in a Botafogo jersey—a tradition following major victories. 

The celebrations continued well into the next day as tens of thousands of fans greeted the team at the edges of the Botafogo Beach for a massive parade, draping banners and creating a carnival-like atmosphere in December. It was a special moment—a nation united in joy over a dream fulfilled.

In many ways, Saturday’s victory felt like the culmination of the club’s 130-year journey—a journey filled with beauty, tragedy, challenges, heartbreak, and now glory. 

It’s time for a new Botafogo. A Botafogo that doesn’t crumble under pressure, that wins even when playing a man down, that defines its own fate, and that understands without war, there isn’t glory and above all, a Botafogo that never gives up.

This story reminds us all that in soccer, as in life, things are never truly over. 

Yes, last year, Botafogo bottled the Brazilian league in devastating fashion. But the story didn’t end there. They kept believing, and now they’ve reached eternal glory. And just as they didn’t give up, neither should anyone else. Who’s to say that in a few years, Atlético Mineiro, despite their current heartbreak, won’t achieve greatness?

Moving forward, Botafogo will receive $23 million for their Libertadores win, bringing their total campaign earnings to $33.34 million. Beyond this, they have a chance to make even more history. They are three points clear at the top of the Brazilian league with two matches to go. 

They will also compete in the intercontinental Club World Cup in December, with potential showdowns against Pachuca, an Asian or African team, and potentially Real Madrid. At the end of the day, Botafogo’s win is one that will go down in history. It’s a story of courage, resilience, and belief. It goes to show show that everyone has their time to shine and now, finally, it’s Botafogo’s time.