Four-time Libertadores champion Flamengo faces Lanús in Recopa 2026 in February

Flamengo won its fourth Copa Libertadores 2025 championship by beating Palmeiras 1-0, in Lima, at Peru, on Saturday (29). Danilo’s header, 21 minutes into the second half, following a corner, sealed the victory and the continental title for the Rio club. Essa victory defines the confrontation at Recopa Sul-Americana 2026 against Lanús, champion of Copa Sul-Americana 2025.

Lanús secured their place by beating Atlético-MG on penalties, in the final played in Assunção, at Paraguai, a week earlier. Conmebol, the organizing entity, confirmed the clash as the first international title of the following year. The tournament, played in round-trip games, opens the South American competition calendar.

The total prize pool for Flamengo in Libertadores amounts to US$33.2 million, equivalent to around R$178 million at the current price. Esse value includes bonuses for advanced stages and the prize for the title, exceeding the club’s initial financial goals for the season.

Brasil equals Argentina in number of titles from Libertadores, with 25 achievements each. Flamengo becomes the first Brazilian club with four cups in the tournament, reinforcing the recent hegemony of national teams.

The meeting of the Campeão@LibertadoresBRx Campeão da@SudamericanaBR! Definido the confrontation of Recopa: Flamengo x Lanús!#DefinedConfrontation pic.twitter.com/7Stbv0WGUv

— FL4MENGO (@Flamengo)December 1, 2025

Flamengo’s path to the continental title

Rubro-Negro advanced to Libertadores with a solid campaign in the group stage, gaining 15 points in 10 games. Nas round of 16, eliminated Bolívar from Bolívia by 4-1 on aggregate. Nas quarterfinals, beat River Plate 3-2, in balanced duels.

In the semifinals, Flamengo faced Independiente del Valle and won 2-0 against Rio de The final against Palmeiras, at Estádio Monumental, brought together more than 60 thousand fans and highlighted the red and black defense, which did not concede goals in the second half.

Danilo, a 33-year-old defender, emerged as a hero with his first goal in the competition. The player, who arrived at the club in 2022, has played 120 games and contributed to the defensive solidity throughout the campaign.

Coach Filipe Luís, in his first season in charge, implemented a tactical scheme with an emphasis on quick transitions. Arrascaeta and Bruno Henrique were key players in the attack, with the Uruguayan registering five assists.

Conquest of the Lanús at the Sul-Americana boosts ambitions

Lanús lifted the Sul-Americana cup for the second time by beating Atlético-MG 4-3 on penalties, after a goalless draw in normal time. The match took place at Estádio Defensores del Chaco, with an audience of 35 thousand people. The Argentine goalkeeper saved two decisive shots.

In the group stage, the team scored 13 points in eight games and advanced as leader of their group. Nas octaves, eliminated Defensa and Justicia 3-1 on aggregate. Quartas in the final brought victory over Peñarol by 2-0.

Semi-finals against Independiente resulted in 1-0 for Lanús in the first leg, with a draw in the second leg that confirmed the classification. The Argentine club, founded in 1915, has now accumulated two continental titles in this competition, equaling Athletico-PR and Boca Juniors.

Coach Ricardo Zielinski highlighted the cohesion of the squad, with an average age of 26 years old. Jogadores like Walter Bou and Marcelino Moreno scored crucial goals in the campaign.

History of Recopa and Brazilian dominance

The Recopa Sul-Americana, created in 1988, brings together the champions of the Libertadores and the Sul-Americana since 2003. The Brasil leads with 13 titles, followed by the Argentina with 11 and the Equador with three. The last Brazilian winner was Fluminense, in 2024, against LDU.

Argentine clubs dominate the individual number of achievements: Boca Juniors has four cups, while River Plate has three. Do Brazilian side, São Paulo, Internacional and Grêmio have two each. Flamengo is looking for its second Recopa, after winning in 2020 against Independiente del Valle.

• In 2023, Flamengo was runner-up to Recopa, losing to the same Independiente from Valle.
• Lanús competed in the competition only once, in 2014, when they fell in the final to Atlético-MG.
• Since 2003, winners of the Libertadores have had an advantage in the confrontation, with 15 victories compared to eight of the Sul-Americana.

The tournament distributes US$2 million to the champion and US$900,000 to the runner-up, amounts confirmed for 2025 and similar for 2026. The prize encourages investments in infrastructure and hiring.

Dates and locations of the confrontation in February

Conmebol has scheduled the first leg for February 18, 2026, Wednesday, at Estádio Presidente Perón, known as La Fortaleza, in Lanús, province of Buenos Aires. The match starts at 9:30 pm local time, Argentina (UTC-3). Capacidade of the stadium has 55 thousand fans.

The return game takes place on February 25, also Wednesday, at Maracanã, Rio of Janeiro. Horário is scheduled for 9:30 pm on Brasília (UTC-3), with gates opening early to accommodate 78,000 spectators. The regulations grant the Libertadores champion the right to decide at home.

Broadcasts on Brasil include channels such as SporTV and Globo, while on Argentina, ESPN and TyC Sports cover the event. The entity expects a global audience of more than 10 million viewers, based on previous editions.

The schedules respect national calendars, avoiding overlaps with local leagues. Arbitration will be defined by Conmebol in January, with VAR mandatory in both games.

Expectations for the casts in 2026

Flamengo plans reinforcements in the midfield after the title, with advanced negotiations for the return of Paquetá. The Rio club leads the Brasileirão 2025 with 75 points, five points behind the runner-up. The Recopa marks the beginning of international competitions for the Rubro-Negro.

Lanús, third in Campeonato Argentino, focuses on retaining young talent. The Argentine squad recorded 1.8 goals per game in the Sul-Americana, with a solid defense of just 0.7 conceded on average. Preparation for February includes pre-season friendlies.

Both teams face a mixed record in direct duels: two previous games, with a 2-1 win in 2018 and a 1-1 draw in Argentina. The confrontation promises tactical balance, with Flamengo exploring speed and Lanús betting on counterattacks.

Recopa also classifies the winner for FIFA’s Copa Intercontinental, expanding ambitions. Flamengo is already guaranteed in the Mundial of Clubes 2029 as four-time champion of the Libertadores.