Samuel Lino Recalls Redemption After Securing Flamengo’s Qualification Against Cruzeiro

By:Paulo PiresLibertadores EN20/08/2026at 07:00

With a crucial goal, Samuel Lino sealed Flamengo‘s qualification for the Libertadores, turning criticism into celebration and proving his turnaround on the field.

Flamengo secured its spot in the Copa Libertadoresquarterfinals after a 2-1 victory over Cruzeiro at the Maracanã stadium, in an electrifying showdown. The highlight of the night was Samuel Lino, who scored the decisive goal, consolidating a significant personal comeback in his journey in the competition.

The performance of the 16th-ranked player for the Rubro-Negro took on an air of redemption. After being the target of criticism and ‘taunts’ in the first leg at the Mineirão, where he was dribbled past on the play that led to the opposing goal, Lino responded on the field, starring in the play that cemented the qualification for Mais Querido (The Most Beloved).

Samuel Lino’s Response on the Field

Emotion overcame Samuel Lino after the final whistle. The player recalled the situation from the previous match, when the 1-1 draw at the Mineirão generated negative repercussions. In his words, the saying ‘he who laughs last, laughs best’ echoed at the Maracanã.

There’s a very famous phrase that I posted when I left the Mineirão, we drew 1-1, I got dribbled, I was heavily mocked. I said: he who laughs last, laughs best. Today it was my turn to leave the defender on the ground and score the qualifying goal. And the qualifying goal is what matters most.

Difficulty of the Match and Fan Support

Lino also emphasized the complexity of the duel against Cruzeiro, recognized as one of the toughest opponents in America. He made a point of highlighting the team’s dedication and the crucial role of the Rubro-Negro fans in the result.

It was a tough game, a difficult team, one of the best teams in America. (Cruzeiro) also came with the pressure to seek the final, but we were incredible. Firstly, I thank the fans, for their surreal support until the end. We responded on the field, running until the last minute, we got tired. This qualification gives us a lot of momentum for what’s next.

Crucial Details of the Clashes

In the first leg, Cruzeiro opened the scoring with a great goal from Arroyo, who dribbled past Samuel Lino. Flamengo equalized with Lucas Paquetá. In the return match at the Maracanã, Arrascaeta put the Rubro-Negro ahead, but Lucas Romero equalized for the team from Minas. Samuel Lino‘s redemption came in the second half, with a dazzling cut to beat William, securing the victory and advancement.

The Path to the Quarterfinals

With qualification secured, Flamengo now awaits its opponent in the Libertadoresquarterfinals. The clash will be against the winner of Independiente del Valle from Ecuador and Deportes Tolima from Colombia. The Ecuadorian team came out on top in the first leg, winning 1-0 in Colombia.

The first legs of the quarterfinals are scheduled for September 8, 9, or 10, away from Brazil. The return match, where Flamengo will have the advantage of deciding at the Maracanã due to having the best record in the group stage, will be on September 15, 16, or 17 of the same month.

The qualification not only reaffirms Flamengo‘s strength in the competition but also injects crucial morale for the upcoming challenges. Samuel Lino‘s turnaround exemplifies the squad’s resilience and ability to overcome adversity in decisive moments, now aiming for the advanced stages of the Libertadores.

By Equipe M360