Midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta can further consolidate his history at Flamengo in a landmark clash against Cruzeiro, scheduled for August 10, 2026. Even though he is already an idol with the right to be busted at the Rio club, the Uruguayan has the chance to rewrite a personal chapter, retaliating against the elimination he imposed on the red-black team in the 2018 Conmebol Libertadores, when he wore the Minas Gerais team’s shirt.
That year, Flamengo and Cruzeiro faced each other in the round of 16 of the continental tournament. After winning 2-0 at Maracanã, Raposa advanced despite a 1-0 defeat at Mineirão. Of those squads, only Arrascaeta and Lucas Paquetá will be on the field again in the next game, both now defending the colors of the Rio team.
For Arrascaeta, the journey at Cruzeiro did not result in winning the Libertadores, as the team was eliminated by Boca Juniors in the next phase. However, his career at Flamengo was crowned with the competition title in 2019, 2022 and 2025, making him a three-time champion with the Gávea club.
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Lucas Paquetá, in turn, also had the opportunity to play in that 2018 match for Flamengo and is now looking for a rematch against Arrascaeta’s former team.
Flamengo squad for the 2018 Libertadores
The Flamengo team that faced Cruzeiro in 2018 was made up of: Diego Alves; Rodinei, Réver, Léo Duarte and Renê (Geuvânio); Cuéllar (Lincoln), Lucas Paquetá, Diego, Everton Ribeiro and Marlos Moreno; Vitinho (Henrique Dourado). The coach was Maurício Barbieri.
Cruzeiro composition in 2018 in the competition
Cruzeiro, the opponent at the time, had Fábio; Lucas Romero (Edilson), Dedé, Léo and Egídio; Henrique and Lucas Silva; Thiago Neves, Robinho (Rafinha) and Arrascaeta; Boats (Raniel). The team was led by coach Mano Menezes.
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Playing for Flamengo, Arrascaeta has a favorable record against Cruzeiro, with four wins, one draw and just one defeat in six clashes. However, this will be the first time that he will face the Minas Gerais team in Conmebol Libertadores as a red and black player.
Arrascaeta results against Cruzeiro with the Flamengo shirt
- Flamengo 3 x 1 Cruzeiro(Brasileirão 2019)
- Cruzeiro 1 x 2 Flamengo(Brasileirão 2019)
- Cruzeiro 0 x 2 Flamengo(Brasileirão 2023)
- Cruzeiro 2 x 1 Flamengo(Brasileirão 2025)
- Flamengo 0 x 0 Cruzeiro(Brasileirão 2025)
- Flamengo 2 x 0 Cruzeiro(Brasileirão 2026)
Recently, Arrascaeta went through a period of 97 days without taking the field. Since his return, the midfielder has been undergoing intense physical preparation to reach his best shape for the match against Cruzeiro, which will take place at Mineirão.
The Uruguayan’s absence began on April 29, when he suffered a fractured collarbone in a Libertadores game against Estudiantes. In early June, a calf injury during training with the Uruguay national team sidelined him. He officially returned on July 23, in a game against Chapecoense.
Since then, the player has gradually received minutes on the field, and the expectation is that he will be one of the starters in the decisive clash against Cruzeiro.
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Arrascaeta’s transfer to Flamengo
Arrascaeta’s departure from Toca da Raposa in 2019 surprised many, motivated by the player’s and his agent’s interest in a higher salary proposal from Flamengo. After tense negotiations, with Cruzeiro accusing the Rio team of grooming, the Cruzeiro board agreed to sell 50% of the midfielder’s economic rights for 13 million euros, which at the time corresponded to approximately R$55 million.
During his time at Cruzeiro, the Uruguayan won three titles — two Copas do Brasil and a Campeonato Mineiro — and scored 50 goals. Of this total, 34 goals were decisive, coming in moments of draw or when the team lost by one goal. Arrascaeta also stood out for his 37 assists, 26 of which came in situations of a draw or a one-goal disadvantage for the team from Minas Gerais.