The Conmebol Libertadores is a South American tournament, but lately it has started to resemble a Brazilian Cup. For the seventh consecutive year, a Brazilian team will lift the continent’s most prestigious trophy.

On Thursday night, Palmeiras pulled off a historic comeback, overturning a 3–0 deficit from the first leg against LDU with a stunning 4–0 victory at home. Meanwhile, Flamengo confirmed their place in the final after dispatching Racing in two disciplined performances.

Both finalists represent the gold standard of Brazilian football: financially stable, tactically consistent, and fiercely competitive. They’re also neck and neck in the 2025 Brasileirão title race, making this final a true decider of supremacy.

And now, the question: who will be the first Brazilian team to win the Libertadores four times? So let’s analyze these two giants to try to answer this…

Palmeiras: The Consistent Contender

Palmeiras arrive in Lima with the poise of a seasoned continental powerhouse. Under Abel Ferreira, the Verdão have now reached three of the last six Libertadores finals.

In the group stage, they were the only Brazilian club with a 100% record (six wins in six matches), finishing with the tournament’s best overall campaign. Since 2020, Palmeiras boast an 87.5% win rate in Libertadores group play — a staggering 27 wins, 3 draws, and just 2 defeats.

After easily dispatching Universitario (Round of 16) and River Plate (quarterfinals), the São Paulo giants showed their trademark resilience by stunning LDU with a 4–0 comeback win in the semifinal second leg.

Flamengo: Efficiency Over Spectacle

Flamengo, led by rookie coach Filipe Luís, were less dominant early on but grew stronger with every round. After finishing second in their group, they beat Internacional 3–0 on aggregate in the Round of 16 and edged past Estudiantes in the quarters, thanks to goalkeeper Augustín Rossi’s heroics in a penalty shootout.

In the semifinals, Flamengo confirmed their superiority by eliminating Racing with two 1–0 wins. More than flair, the Rubro-Negro displayed emotional control, defensive solidity, and experience: all hallmarks of a champion.

Key Players: Depth and Decisiveness

With both squads valued well above €150 million, Palmeiras and Flamengo have star-studded rosters packed with match-winners. But a few names have stood out with their consistency and leadership:

Jose “Flaco” López – The Argentine forward, alongside Vitor Roque, forms a lethal attacking duo. He’s scored seven goals and provided one assist in the tournament, earning the team’s best Sofascore rating at 7.33.