On December 30th, a packed Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires witnessed the rewriting of South American football history. In the heart of Argentina, in a relentless battle in front of more than 84,000 spectators, two historically mid-table Brazilian clubs faced off.
Botafogo and Atlético Mineiro went head-to-head for the most prestigious trophy in the Southern Hemisphere – the Copa Libertadores. Although the match was held in Argentina, Brazilian fans flooded Buenos Aires, making both teams feel their passionate support.
While Atlético Mineiro is seen as a club supported by the middle class in Belo Horizonte, Botafogo has traditionally gathered fans from the poorest communities in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Though these social distinctions have become blurred over time, one thing remains the same—their unwavering love for their teams.
At the final whistle, tears of joy belonged to Botafogo’s supporters, while Atlético Mineiro’s fans were left heartbroken. The triumph was historic for Botafogo, marking their first-ever Copa Libertadores title.
The road to victory, however, was filled with struggle, resilience, and countless challenges. The latest chapter in Botafogo’s 106-year history began in early 2021.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 season concluded in late February 2021. During that campaign, Botafogo went through seven different managers, but none could prevent their disastrous finish. The team ended at the bottom of the league with just 27 points from 28 matches, suffering relegation to Brazil’s second division for the first time since 2014.
The early months in Serie B were tough, and after 13 rounds, Botafogo was stuck in the lower half of the table. Following a 2-0 loss to Goiás in July, Enderson Moreira took over as head coach. He revitalized the team, leading them on a powerful late-season surge to finish first and secure a return to the top flight.
At the beginning of 2022, a key turning point occurred—Botafogo changed ownership. 90% of the club’s shares were acquired by “Eagle Football Group,” a company that also holds stakes in Lyon, Crystal Palace, and Belgian club Molenbeek. At the helm of this venture was American businessman John Textor, who spared no expense in his mission to revive the two-time Brazilian champions.
Portuguese coach Luís Castro was appointed to lead the team, guiding Botafogo to an 11th-place finish in the 2022 Serie A season. With a stable owner investing heavily, the club’s ambitions grew. In 2023, Botafogo stormed into the title race.
From the third round of the league, after defeating Flamengo 2-0, Botafogo took the top spot and dominated the competition. Everything seemed to be going perfectly, but on October 22, 2023, things took a dramatic turn.
Hosting sixth-placed Athletico Paranaense at the Nilton Santos Stadium, Botafogo took the lead in the 24th minute through another goal by Tiquinho Soares. However, Pablo equalized just before halftime, and no more goals were scored after the break. At the time, the draw didn’t seem concerning, but in hindsight, it marked the beginning of a disastrous run.
Botafogo failed to win any of their remaining 11 matches, suffering five defeats and drawing six times. Despite having a 16-point lead at one stage, they plummeted to fifth place by the end of the season.
For many clubs, such a collapse would have caused turmoil, but Botafogo remained determined. Ahead of the 2024 season, they reinforced their squad by signing Luiz Henrique from Real Betis, bringing back Jefinho on loan from Lyon, and acquiring Jefferson Savarino from Real Salt Lake. In the summer, the club made even bigger moves, securing World Cup winner Thiago Almada and striker Igor Jesus.
In April, Portuguese manager Artur Jorge took over, continuing Botafogo’s resurgence. The team battled through two qualification rounds to reach the Copa Libertadores group stage.
Drawn alongside Colombia’s second-best team, Junior, Peruvian champions Universitario, and Ecuadorian powerhouse LDU Quito—winners of the 2023 Copa Sudamericana—Botafogo faced a tough challenge. Despite being in Pot 4, they collected 10 points from six matches and finished second, level on points with Junior.
The round of 16 draw was unkind, pitting them against the 2023 Brazilian champions, Palmeiras. However, Igor Jesus and Luiz Henrique led Botafogo to a 2-1 home victory. In the second leg in São Paulo, the Rio side took a 2-0 lead early in the second half. Although Palmeiras fought back to equalize, Botafogo held on to eliminate the favorites.
Their quarterfinal opponent was São Paulo. The first leg ended goalless, while the return match finished 1-1, forcing a penalty shootout. Despite a miss by Vitinho, São Paulo’s Jonathan Calleri and Rodrigo Nestor also faltered, sending Botafogo to the semifinals.
There, they faced the Uruguayan giants Peñarol, aiming for their first final since 2011. However, at the Olympic Stadium in Rio, Peñarol’s hopes were shattered as Botafogo delivered a stunning 5-0 thrashing, with goals from Savarino (2), Alexander Barbosa, Luiz Henrique, and Igor Jesus. Despite Peñarol’s 3-1 win in the return leg, it wasn’t enough—Botafogo had reached the final.
Their opponent was Atlético Mineiro, who had eliminated Grêmio, Fluminense, and River Plate—denying the Argentinians a final at their own stadium.
The match at Monumental started dramatically, with Gregore receiving a red card within the opening two minutes. But Botafogo’s determination was unshaken. Despite playing nearly the entire match with ten men, they triumphed 3-1, with goals from Luiz Henrique, Alex Telles, and Júnior Santos. Eduardo Vargas netted for Atlético Mineiro, but they had to settle for second place.
A dream had become reality! For the first time in their 120-year history, Botafogo were champions of South America! The triumph was even sweeter given the club’s incredible journey to the top.
Just three years earlier, Botafogo had been in Brazil’s second division. But through perseverance and ambition, they turned their dream into reality.
And fate smiled on them once more. Just eight days after winning the Copa Libertadores, Botafogo claimed the one title that had slipped from their grasp the previous year—the Brazilian league championship.
In the final round, the “black and whites” from Rio defeated São Paulo 2-1 at home, while their main title rival, Palmeiras, lost 1-0 to Fluminense. As a result, Artur Jorge’s side were crowned Brazilian champions for the first time since 1995—securing their third league title overall.
The story of Botafogo and their fans is one straight out of a movie—a testament to the idea that in football, justice eventually prevails. If you truly deserve something but lose it, as long as you keep fighting with passion and determination, sooner or later, you will reach your ultimate goal.