Danilo da Silva header secures Flamengo Copa Libertadores triumph over Palmeiras

By Canadian Press on November 29, 2025.

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Former Juventus defender Danilo da Silva scored a second-half goal and Flamengo downed Palmeiras 1-0 to win the Copa Libertadores final on Saturday.

Da Silva, who also spent time in Europe with Real Madrid and Manchester City, scored on a header in the 67th minute.

“I scored the goal for the team of my life,” said Danilo, who joined the Rio de Janeiro club this year after a 14-season career in Europe. “I knew we were going to have a set-piece opportunity and I was able to take advantage of it.”

Flamengo won its fourth Copa Libertadores crown and its first since 2022. It also won in 1981 and 2019.

Brazil has 25 Copa titles, tying Argentina’s tally as the winningest nation in the tournament.

The Rio de Janeiro team became the first Brazilian four-time champion, surpassing the record held by Palmeiras, São Paulo, Santos, and Grêmio. With this victory, they tied Argentine clubs River Plate and Estudiantes de La Plata. Only Independiente (7), Boca Juniors (6), and Peñarol (5) have more Libertadores titles.

Flamengo took home $24 million and a place in the 2029 Club World Cup. It will also play in the Recopa against Lanús, which won the Copa Sudamericana last Saturday. The runner-up receives $7 million.

Brazilian teams have won the Copa Libertadores seven years in a row. Argentina’s River Plate was the last non-Brazilian team to win the tournament when it defeated Boca Juniors in 2018.

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The Associated Press