Abel Ferreira vs. the 2019 Generation: the pillars of Palmeiras and Flamengo in the Libertadores final.
Palmeiras and Flamengo will decide the 2025 Libertadores on Saturday (29) supported by pillars that underpin the identity of the two most successful projects in Brazilian football in the last decade. On one side, Abel Ferreira, the coach who consolidated the Palmeiras model since 2020. On the other, the remnants of the historic Flamengo team of 2019, who continue as a technical and symbolic reference for the squad.
The final pits the continuity of a project that transformed Palmeiras into a continental protagonist against the longevity of leaders who shaped Flamengo’s most victorious period, in a clash that exposes distinct styles, trajectories, and structures in the quest for Eternal Glory.
‘Cool head, warm heart’, trophies piled up at Palmeiras and Abel Ferreira’s decision to stay.
Abel Ferreira needs no introduction. Although he arrived somewhat quietly and was relatively unknown on the national scene, the Portuguese coach has gradually gained visibility thanks to the solid and winning work he has been doing at Palmeiras . The recipe for success? Only the coach, his coaching staff, and the players know for sure, but an important and crucial point is mental strength combined with serious work.
The coach has been at Palmeiras for five years, something rarely seen in Brazilian football due to the high turnover of managers, and he has already announced he will stay longer. Even though he hasn’t signed his contract renewal, Abel Ferreira doesn’t pay much attention to “paperwork.” For him, his word is worth more than any signature , and therefore he has everything he needs to extend his winning history at the São Paulo club.
The board led by Leila Pereira trusts Abel Ferreira’s work. And it’s no wonder: so far, he has won ten titles, including two Libertadores, two Brasileirão titles and one Copa do Brasil. The tally could increase this Saturday (29), when he will play the final of the continental tournament against Flamengo, in Lima, Peru. If that happens, the Portuguese will reach an almost unattainable milestone on Brazilian soil.
Abel Ferreira is a specialist in reviving players who are often in poor form, as recently happened with Flaco López and Vitor Roque, who in the second half of the year formed the most lethal attacking duo in Brazil. Furthermore, the coaching staff invests heavily in youth development. Nurturing, developing, and supporting younger players are fundamental to Abel’s role. The result? Astronomical sales of players like Endrick to Real Madrid in Spain and Estêvão to Chelsea in England.
The board’s decision to keep Abel Ferreira in charge demonstrates their confidence in the coach’s winning work. So far, this coaching staff hasn’t gone a single year without a title. Now, it remains to be seen if Palmeiras will win another Libertadores Cup to end 2025 on a high note.
Abel Ferreira’s titles with Palmeiras
- 2 Copa Libertadores titles (2020 and 2021);
- 2 Brazilian Championships (2022 and 2023);
- 1 Copa do Brasil (2020);
- 1 Recopa Sudamericana (2022);
- 1 Brazilian Super Cup (2023);
- 3 São Paulo State Championships (2022, 2023 and 2024).
Six years later, Flamengo’s idols remain protagonists.
Flamengo reaches the Libertadores final against Palmeiras supported by three figures who have become pillars of the club: Arrascaeta , Bruno Henrique , and Filipe Luís . Idols of the fans and protagonists in different phases of the team, the three stand out as leaders of a cycle that has collected titles, individual achievements, and a rare continuity in Brazilian football.
Arrascaeta and Bruno Henrique arrived in Rio at the beginning of 2019 and quickly assumed leading roles — along with their former teammate Gabigol. Six years later, they remain symbols of leadership: they are the team’s captains and central figures in building the squad that is competing in the continental final. Furthermore, they are the most successful players in Flamengo’s history, with 15 titles won.
The Uruguayan is having the most outstanding season of his career and has established himself as the team’s main player. He has 96 goals, 106 assists and 349 appearances for Flamengo, numbers that solidify his position as a technical and creative reference. In 2025, now wearing the number 10 jersey, he is the team’s top scorer and assist provider.
Bruno Henrique, who has scored 110 goals, provided 54 assists, and played 336 games for the club, reaches the final at a time of affirmation. Since his serious anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2022, he hasn’t returned to his status as an undisputed starter, but he continues to have a direct impact in decisive phases. He has scored six goals in the last six games, taking command of the attack in the absence of Pedro, who is out due to injury.
Filipe Luís joined the duo when he arrived at the club in July 2019. With 176 appearances, four goals and nine assists as a player, he retired at the end of 2023 and became a coach, but remained with Flamengo.
The transition occurred at the youth level, initially with the under-17s and then the under-20s, until he took over the main team in September 2024. In charge, he has accumulated 83 games, with 53 wins, 21 draws, and nine losses. In a short career, he has already won the 2024 Copa do Brasil, as well as the Campeonato Carioca and the Supercopa this year. Now, he has the opportunity to repeat his feat as a player and win the Libertadores and Brasileirão in the same season.
The decision against Palmeiras once again highlights three trajectories that intertwine during the most victorious period in Flamengo’s recent history. Since 2019, Arrascaeta, Bruno Henrique, and Filipe Luís have occupied distinct but complementary roles in consolidating the project that keeps the club at the top of Brazilian and South American football.
