2023 Clube de Regatas do Flamengo season

Flamengo

2023 season
President	Rodolfo Landim
Head coach	Vítor Pereira (until 11 April 2023) Mário Jorge (caretaker, 11–16 April 2023, 28 September 2023 – 9 October 2023) Jorge Sampaoli (since 16 April 2023 – until 28 September 2023) Tite (since 9 October 2023)
Stadium	Maracanã
Série A	4th
Campeonato Carioca	Runners-up
Copa do Brasil	Runners-up
Copa Libertadores	Round of 16
Supercopa do Brasil	Runners-up
Recopa Sudamericana	Runners-up
FIFA Club World Cup	3rd place
Top goalscorer	League: Pedro (13 goals) All: Pedro (35 goals)
Highest home attendance	71,411 (28 February 2023 vs Independiente del Valle, Recopa Sudamericana)
Lowest home attendance	20,670 (13 September 2023 vs Athletico Paranaense, Série A)
Average home league attendance	57,501
Home colours Away colours Third colours
← 2022 2024 →

The 2023 season is Clube de Regatas do Flamengo's 128th year of existence, their 112th football season, and their 53rd in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, having never been relegated from the top division. In addition to the 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Flamengo will also compete in the Supercopa do Brasil, Recopa Sudamericana, CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores, the Copa do Brasil, and the Campeonato Carioca, the top tier of Rio de Janeiro's state football. Due to the 2022 FIFA World Cup being played in the December 2022 the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup moved its schedule to February 2023 into the Brazilian season, as the current Copa Libertadores champions Flamengo will play the competition for the second time.

The 2023 home kit has been unveiled on 26 January in an event in the club's headquarter. The shirt has returned to being mostly red and has debuted in Supercopa do Brasil against Palmeiras.^[1][2]

On 13 April 2023, Flamengo debut the goalkeeper's first kit for the 2023 season in a Copa do Brasil match against Maringá.^[3]

On 10 May 2023, Flamengo and Adidas launched the team's away kit for the 2023 season.^[4]

On 24 May 2023, Flamengo debut the goalkeeper's second kit for the 2023 season in a Copa Libertadores match against Ñublense.^[5]

On 6 September 2023, Flamengo and Adidas officially presented the club's new third kit, mainly in black.^[6]

On 5 November 2023, Flamengo debut the goalkeeper's third kit for the 2023 season in a Campeonato Brasileiro Série A match against Fortaleza.^{[citation needed]}

Supplier: Adidas
Sponsors: Banco BRB (Main sponsor) / Mercado Livre (Back of the shirt) / Assist Card (Lower back) / Pixbet (Shoulder) / Sil Cabos (Sleeves) / TIM (Numbers) / ABC da Construção (Shorts)

Home 0 0	Home alternate 0	Away 0 0	Away alternate 0	Third (2022–23) 0	Third alternate (2022–23)	Third (2023–24) 0
Goalkeeper 0	Goalkeeper alternate	Goalkeeper alternate 2	Goalkeeper alternate 3

On 14 November 2022, Filipe Luís extended his contract for another year until 31 December 2023.^[7]

On 25 November 2022, head coach Dorival Júnior announced he and Flamengo mutually decided to not extend his contract for another season.^[8]

On 13 December 2022, Flamengo and Vítor Pereira agreed to sign the Portuguese as the new head coach.^[9] Despite the agreement both sides decided to not turn official until his contract runs out with Corinthians to avoid any legal problem.

On 14 December 2022, Vitor Gabriel extended his contract for another six months until 30 June 2024 and then loaned to Ceará for the 2023 season.^[10][11]

On 16 December 2022, David Luiz extended his contract for another year until 31 December 2023.^[12][13] On the same day Flamengo announced the permanent transfer of Ayrton Lucas with a €7m transfer fee, he signed a contract with the club until 31 December 2027.^[14][15]

On 31 December 2022, Flamengo announced an agreement with Olympique de Marseille to transfer back Gerson in a €15m transfer fee.^[16]

After the opening of the transfer window Flamengo presented Vítor Pereira as the new head coach on 3 January and Gerson on 5 January.^[17][18] Rodinei left the club at the end of contract moving to Super League Greece club Olympiacos and Matheus Thuler, previously on loan, made a permanent deal with J1 League club Vissel Kobe in a €910k transfer fee.^[19][20]

On 9 January, Flamengo confirmed Agustín Rossi signed a pre contract, moving on a free transfer from Boca Juniors at the end of his contract on 1 July. Flamengo still intended to pay a financial compensation to have the Argentine Goalkeeper already in January.^[21] Although Boca Juniors refused to hear any offer and moved him on loan to Al Nassr until June.^[22][23]

On 12 January, Hugo Souza transferred to Vissel Kobe on a €1.2m transfer fee, with Flamengo retaining 50% of a future transfer. Although, two days later Hugo withdrew the transfer claiming personal problems.^[24][25] Also on 12 January the club announced that Guillermo Varela, previously on loan, signed a pre contract for a permanent deal starting at the end of his constract with Dynamo Moscow on 1 July.^[26][27]

Due to calendar conflicts with FIFA Club World Cup the Campeonato Carioca started earlier for Flamengo with the matchday 5 match against Audax Rio being moved to 12 January. For the fourth season in a row Flamengo decided to play the first Campeonato Carioca matches with youth team players and younger professionals, this time with Mário Jorge (current U20 coach) as the head coach.^[28] In the opening match against Audax Rio Flamengo won 1–0, Matheus França scored the only goal of the match.

The draw of the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup was held on 13 January 2023 in Salé, Morocco, and decided the matchups of the second round and the opponents of the two second round winners in the semi-finals. Flamengo was scheduled to play on 7 February against the winner of the match between Wydad Casablanca and Al Hilal.^[29]

Vítor Pereira debuted as Flamengo head coach in the second match of the season, a 4–1 win against Portuguesa on 15 January.^[30]

On 19 January, was announced Ramon's transfer to Olympiacos, the Greek side agreed to pay a €1.5m transfer fee and Flamengo kept 30% of a future transfer.^[31]

Against Bangu on 24 January, once again Flamengo was managed by Mario Jorge and played with members of youth team plus Rodrigo Caio, still recovering from injury. Lorran scored Flamengo's only goal becoming the youngest goal scorer in club's history with 16 years and 204 days.^[32]

On 25 January, Pedro extended his contract until 31 December 2027.^[33]

After a battle between Olympique Lyonnais and Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign João Gomes, the midfielder finally transferred to the English side on 26 January. The Premier League club agreed to pay a €18.7m fee plus future clauses.^[34][35]

On 27 January, Léo Pereira extended his contract until 31 December 2027.^[36]

In a thrilling match with seven goals scored on 28 January Flamengo lost the Supercopa do Brasil to Palmeiras 4–3.^[37]

On 7 February, Flamengo debuted in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup against Saudi club Al Hilal and surprisingly lost 3–2 after playing the entire second half with one player less.^[38][39] Four days later on 11 February, Flamengo played the third place match against Egypt club Al Ahly winning 4–2 with Pedro and Gabriel Barbosa each scoring a brace.^[40] On this match Giorgian de Arrascaeta reached the mark of 200 official matches for the club.^[41]

On 15 February, Flamengo won Volta Redonda 3–1 and despite missing a penalty kick Gabriel Barbosa once again scored two goals reaching the club's top 10 all-time top scorers.^[42]

On 21 February, Flamengo played the first leg of the 2023 Recopa Sudamericana against Independiente del Valle. The match was played in the Estadio Banco Guayaquil in Quito. The Ecuadorian club won 1–0, goal scored in a header by Mateo Carabajal.^[43]

On 23 February, Matheus França extended his contract with Flamengo until 31 December 2028.^[44]

On 28 February, the second leg of the Recopa Sudamericana was played at the Maracanã Stadium with a season record attendance of 71,411. Flamengo won 1–0, Giorgian de Arrascaeta scored the winning goal on the last play of the match on the 96th minute. The score forced extra time which remained scoreless. Ironically Giorgian de Arrascaeta missed the only penalty kick in the shootout as Independiente del Valle lifted the trophy for the first time.^[45]

On 5 March, Flamengo lost the first Clássico dos Milhões of the season 1–0 against Vasco da Gama, the only goal was scored by José Luis Rodríguez.^[46] Three days later on 8 March, Flamengo lost its second city derby on a row, this time the Fla–Flu. Despite scoring first with Everton Flamengo let Fluminense come from behind with Germán Cano and Gabriel Pirani winning 2–1. With this result Flamengo, already qualified to the Campeonato Carioca semi-finals, dropped two spots finishing third in the overall table.^[47]

After finishing in third place in the Taça Guanabara Flamengo would face Vasco da Gama again in the semi-finals. On 13 March the clubs played the first leg in a match full of defensive mistakes Vasco da Gama opened the score early, but Flamengo managed to come from behind winning 3–2, including a beautiful Giorgian de Arrascaeta's goal from a long range.^[48] The second leg was played six days later on 19 March. Flamengo won once again, this time 3–1 reaching the Campeonato Carioca finals for the third time in a row.^[49]

On 1 April, the Campeonato Carioca finals first leg was played. Flamengo faced Fluminense for the second year in a row and had a solid match winning 2–0, Ayrton Lucas and Pedro scored the goals.^[50]

On 5 April, the Copa Libertadores defending champions Flamengo debuted in the 2023 edition. Playing in Ecuador against Aucas, a club that never played in the top continental competition before, head coach Vítor Pereira decided to mix the starting line-up considering the second match of the Campeonato Carioca finals to be played four days later. Even with Flamengo scoring first with Matheus França the team allowed Aucas to come from behind and win 2–1.^[51]

Despite a strong finals first leg, on the second fixture Flamengo played a terrible match being dominated by Fluminense and losing 4–1 on 9 April.^[52] Another disappointing result in the season increasing the pressure over the Portuguese head coach.

With the series of bad results in the beginning of the season club's directors decided to sack Vítor Pereira on 11 April, appointing Mário Jorge as caretaker for the following matches.^[53][54]

The first match played after the departure of Vítor Pereira was played on 13 April, the first leg of the 2023 Copa do Brasil third round against Campeonato Brasileiro Série D club Maringá. Playing away Flamengo had another bad match and lost 2–0, including an own goal scored by David Luiz.^[55]

On 14 April, Flamengo officially announced Jorge Sampaoli as the club's new head coach.^[56]

Flamengo debuted in 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A still under Mário Jorge control on 16 April, at the Maracanã Stadium Flamengo easily beat Coritiba 3–0.^[57]

The first match under Jorge Sampaoli control was played on 19 April against Chilean club Ñublense, a Copa Libertadores fixture at Maracanã Stadium. Flamengo didn't have any trouble to win 2–0, both goals scored by Pedro and assisted by Marinho.^[58]

On 26 April, the 2023 Copa do Brasil third round second leg match was played at Maracanã Stadium. An early goal scored by Thiago Maia in the second minute led Flamengo to an 8–2 win reverting the bad result in the first leg and advancing to the next phase with an 8–4 on aggregate score. Pedro scored four goals, the second time he did this as a Flamengo player, and Arturo Vidal netted two assists.^[59]

On 18 May, Flamengo officially announced that Luiz Araújo will transfer from Atlanta United, on the next transfer window in July, for a €9m transfer fee.^[60][61]

On 5 June, Flamengo and Vasco da Gama played another Clássico dos Milhões derby, this time in the 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A at Maracanã Stadium. Flamengo dominated almost the entire match winning 4–1, all Mengão goals were scored in the first half.^[62]

In the first fixture of the month, a Campeonato Brasileiro Série A match against Fortaleza, Flamengo won at home 2–0 with Gabriel Barbosa scoring the first goal of the evening and reaching the mark of 150 total goals for Flamengo, becoming the ninth player in club's history to achieve this number.^[63]

On 2 July, Allan has been officially announced as Flamengo's new player. Mengão signed him from rivals Atlético Mineiro for a €8.2m transfer free plus future bonus clauses.^[64] On the same day Goalkeeper Hugo Souza moved on a one-year loan to Primeira Liga club Chaves.^[65]

On 4 July 2023, Vitor Gabriel moved to K League 1 club Gangwon FC on a deal worth €550k.^[66]

For the fifth time in a row Flamengo and Athletico Paranaense were drawn to face each other in the Copa do Brasil, this time in the quarter-finals. The first leg was played at Maracanã Stadium on 5 July and, despite the early goal scored by Agustín Canobbio, Flamengo managed to come from behind in the second half, winning 2–1 with goals scored by Pedro and Bruno Henrique.^[67] The second leg was played on 12 July at Ligga Arena, Flamengo won 2–0 and advanced for the Copa do Brasil semi-finals for the third time in a row.^[68] After the match the club refused to concede any interviews in protest against referee controversies during the match.^[69]

On 8 July, Flamengo and Palmeiras met at Allianz Parque and draw 1–1,^[70] the match was marked by the fight on the streets between supporters from both clubs.^[71] During the braw a Flamengo supporter threw a glass bottle and hit Palmeiras supporter Gabriela Anelli in the head, eventually dying in the next day.^[72] Weeks later on 25 July, Rio de Janeiro police arrested Jonathan Messias Santos da Silva after he was identified as the one who threw the glass bottle.^[73]

Disappointed with losing space in the team and playing few minutes under the command of Jorge Sampaoli, Arturo Vidal negotiated a contract termination with Flamengo on 10 July. On the same day the Chilean player signed with Athletico Paranaense.^[74]

On 22 July, in a 1–1 draw against América Mineiro, Giorgian de Arrascaeta became the first non-Brazilian player in club's history to reach 100 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A matches.

On 29 July, Flamengo won Atlético Mineiro 2–1 at Arena Independência with the two goals scored in the final minutes, Giorgian de Arrascaeta in a free kick in the 79th and Wesley França in the 87th minute.^[75] During the second half Pedro refused to warm-up and after the match was assaulted by fitness coach Pablo Fernández with a punch in the mouth in the locker room.^[76] Pedro pressed charges against Fernández in the same night and in the following day the club dismissed the then fitness coach. On monday 31 July, Pedro missed the training session claiming pain in the face.^[77]

On 27 July, Victor Hugo was awarded 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Young Player of the Month of May.^[78]

On 30 July, Flamengo accepted Crystal Palace's offer for Matheus França, he moved to the Premier League club for a €20m transfer fee plus future bonus clauses.^[79] The transfer was officially announced days later on 5 August.^[80]

Flamengo qualified for the 2023 Supercopa do Brasil by winning the 2022 Copa do Brasil.

Goals, assists and red cards are shown.

Flamengo qualified to the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup as the 2022 Copa Libertadores champions, the club entered the FIFA Club World Cup in the Semi-final.

Goals, assists and red cards are shown.

Flamengo v Al Hilal

7 February 2023 Semi-final	Flamengo	2–3	Al Hilal	Tangier, Morocco
16:00 UTC−3	Pedro 20' (Matheuzinho), 90+1' Gerson  15'  45+8'	Report	Salem 4' (pen.), 45+9' (pen.) Vietto 70' (Salem)	Stadium: Ibn Batouta Attendance: 42,496 Referee: István Kovács (Romania)

Goals, assists and red cards are shown.

Al Ahly v Flamengo

11 February 2023 Third place	Al Ahly	2–4	Flamengo	Tangier, Morocco
12:30 UTC−3	Abdel Kader 38' (Maâloul), 60' (Fathy) Maâloul 58' (pen.) Abdelfattah  69'	Report	Gabriel 11' (pen.), 85' (pen.) Pedro 77', 90+1'	Stadium: Ibn Batouta Attendance: 30,216 Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)

Flamengo qualified for the 2023 Recopa Sudamericana by winning the 2022 Copa Libertadores.

Goals, assists and red cards are shown.

Independiente del Valle v Flamengo

21 February 2023 Final (1st leg)	Independiente del Valle	1–0	Flamengo	Quito, Ecuador
21:30 UTC−3	Carabajal 69' (Sornoza) Ortíz  88'	Report		Stadium: Banco Guayaquil Attendance: 8,811 Referee: Piero Maza (Chile)

Flamengo v Independiente del Valle

28 February 2023 Final (2nd leg)	Flamengo	1–0 (a.e.t.) (1–1 agg.) (4–5 p)	Independiente del Valle	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
21:30 UTC−3	de Arrascaeta 90+6' (Everton)	Report		Stadium: Maracanã Attendance: 71,411 Referee: Andrés Matonte (Uruguay)
	Penalties
	de Arrascaeta David Luiz Everton Gerson Gabriel		Faravelli Hoyos Previtali Schunke Landázuri

Goals, assists and red cards are shown.

The draw for the group stage was held on 27 March 2023 on the CONMEBOL headquarters in Luque, Paraguay.^[81]

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		RAC	FLA	ÑUB	AUC
1	Racing	6	4	1	1	13	6	+7	13	Advance to round of 16		—	1–1	4–0	3–2
2	Flamengo	6	3	2	1	11	5	+6	11			2–1	—	2–0	4–0
3	Ñublense	6	1	2	3	3	10	−7	5	Transfer to Copa Sudamericana		0–2	1–1	—	2–1
4	Aucas	6	1	1	4	6	12	−6	4			1–2	2–1	0–0	—

Goals, assists and red cards are shown.

Aucas v Flamengo

5 April 2023 1	Aucas	2–1	Flamengo	Quito, Ecuador
19:00 UTC−3	Castillo 58' (Otero) Ordóñez 85' (Cuero)	Report	França 40' (Pablo)	Stadium: Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda Attendance: 5,006 Referee: José Argote (Venezuela)

Flamengo v Ñublense

19 April 2023 2	Flamengo	2–0	Ñublense	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
21:30 UTC−3	Pedro 15' (Marinho), 38' (Marinho)	Report		Stadium: Maracanã Attendance: 48,895 Referee: Wilmar Roldán (Colombia)

Racing v Flamengo

4 May 2023 3	Racing	1–1	Flamengo	Avellaneda, Argentina
19:00 UTC−3	Hauche  25'  26' Oroz 73'	Report	Gabriel 45+3' (Pulgar) Wesley  13'  70'	Stadium: Presidente Juan Domingo Perón Attendance: 25,325 Referee: Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela)

Ñublense v Flamengo

24 May 2023 4	Ñublense	1–1	Flamengo	Concepción, Chile
21:30 UTC−3	Henríquez 73' (Rubio)	Report	Gabriel 34'	Stadium: Ester Roa Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Esteban Ostojich (Uruguay)

Flamengo v Racing

8 June 2023 5	Flamengo	2–1	Racing	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
21:00 UTC−3	Wesley 36' (Gerson) Victor Hugo 83' (Pulgar)	Report	M. Rojas 49' (Gómez)	Stadium: Maracanã Attendance: 63,963 Referee: Gustavo Tejera (Uruguay)

Flamengo v Aucas

28 June 2023 6	Flamengo	4–0	Aucas	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
21:30 UTC−3	Pedro 9' Pereira 30' (de Arrascaeta) Bruno Henrique 42' (Ribeiro) Victor Hugo 55' (Pedro)	Report		Stadium: Maracanã Attendance: 62,924 Referee: Andrés Rojas (Colombia)

The draw for the round of 16 was held on 5 July 2023.

Goals, assists and red cards are shown.

Flamengo v Olimpia

3 August 2023 1st leg	Flamengo	1–0	Olimpia	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
21:00 UTC−3	Bruno Henrique 49' (Gabriel)	Report		Stadium: Maracanã Attendance: 67,066 Referee: Darío Herrera (Argentina)

Olimpia v Flamengo

10 August 2023 2nd leg	Olimpia	3–1 (3–2 agg.)	Flamengo	Asunción, Paraguay
21:00 UTC−3	Torres 12' (Cardozo) Ortiz 69' (Zabala) Bruera 80' (Zabala)	Report	Bruno Henrique 8' (de Arrascaeta)	Stadium: Defensores del Chaco Attendance: N/A Referee: Wilmar Roldán (Colombia)

Goals, assists and red cards are shown.

As Flamengo will participate in the 2023 Copa Libertadores, the club entered the Copa do Brasil in the third round.

Goals, assists and red cards are shown.