2019 or 2025? Rafinha surprises with Flamengo team comparison

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Coluna do Fla

·5 November 2025

2019 or 2025? Rafinha surprises with Flamengo team comparison

Rafinha was part of Flamengo's historic squad in 2019

The year 2019 will forever be etched in the memory of Flamengo's supporters. On that occasion, Flamengo dazzled Brazilian football and won the titles of the Brasileirão and Libertadores. As the right-back for Mengão that season, Rafinha stated that he believes the 2025 team is superior.

It's a completely different team from 2019. A team that has a much better squad than that of 2019. Much stronger. Today, Flamengo has two teams, players of the same quality. One can leave, another can come in, and nothing changes. Flamengo managed to build a structure, a team for all competitions, with a coach who wore Flamengo's jersey, who is a Flamengo fan, who is Filipe. I see Flamengo today as very strong, a structured club, with European-level structure, with European-level players. 2019 was a spectacle, a wonderful year, but it's in the past. Now, the 2025 team is a strong team. A better squad than 2019," said Rafinha in an interview with 'GE'.

What were Flamengo's numbers in 2019?

In 2019, Flamengo dominated the South American scene. On that occasion, Mengão played 74 games, achieving 49 wins, 16 draws, and only nine losses, with a 73.4% success rate.

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Additionally, Jorge Jesus's team won the titles of the Campeonato Carioca, the Brasileirão, and the Libertadores. With the continental tournament trophy, Flamengo competed in the Club World Cup but finished second after losing to Liverpool (ENG) in the final.

How was Rafinha's journey at Flamengo?

Rafinha joined Flamengo in 2019 and remained with the team until 2020. During this period, the former right-back played 46 matches with the Sacred Mantle, in which he did not score goals but provided six assists to his teammates.

Thus, Rafinha became one of the most successful players at Flamengo in recent years. This is because the former right-back won two Brazilian Championships, one Copa Libertadores, one Supercopa do Brasil, one Recopa Sudamericana, and one Campeonato Carioca.

What is Mengão's next match?

With Rafinha now only a fan, Flamengo returns to the field this Wednesday (05). At 9:30 PM (Brasília time), Filipe Luís's team faces São Paulo at Vila Belmiro for the 32nd round of the Brasileirão.

As tradition dictates, Coluna do Fla will bring all the details about the match through YouTube, the website, and social media. However, Globo (open channel), GE TV (YouTube) and Premiere (pay-per-view) will broadcast the Flamengo vs São Paulo game.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.