Flamengo has cemented its place in South American football history by securing its fourth Copa Libertadores title, a first for any Brazilian club. The team clinched the historic victory with a 1-0 win against Palmeiras in Lima, Peru, adding the 2025 trophy to those won in 1981, 2019, and 2022. The monumental achievement prompted an enormous celebration in the heart of Rio de Janeiro.
A massive crowd, estimated at half a million people, flooded the Circuito Preta Gil, a corridor of streets in the city center named after a famous Flamengo supporter. The team’s plane landed at Galeão airport in the morning, but fans had already packed the streets hours earlier. The parade route along Rua 1º de Março and Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos was the focal point for the red-and-black sea of celebrating supporters, with three sound towers set up to amplify the festivities.
The city implemented extensive security and traffic measures for the event, including 21 security checkpoints with metal detectors. Major road closures were in effect from 5 am until 4 pm, with city officials strongly recommending the use of the metro to reach the celebrations. The MetroRio system reinforced its operations, adjusting services to handle the huge influx of passengers heading to the Carioca station to join the historic party for the four-time champions.
