After row with Puma Rodríguez, Thiago Mendes quells Vasco crisis

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·22 April 2026

After row with Puma Rodríguez, Thiago Mendes quells Vasco crisis

Vasco won its most recent match, but halftime was marked by a moment of intense tension on the pitch at Mangueirão. Defensive midfielder Thiago Mendes and full-back Puma Rodríguez were involved in a heated argument on their way to the locker room at the stadium in Pará. Tensions flared between the two teammates as they headed in for the break during the game against Paysandu, requiring intervention from other players.

Detailed lip-reading videos on social media revealed the exact content of the clash between the players. The midfielder was visibly upset, but the Uruguayan defender demanded that any complaints be made in private. Shouting at his Vasco teammate, the full-back said:

OneFootball Videos

“Say it inside! Say it inside!”

Unhappy with his teammate’s attitude, the No. 23 fired back sharply:

“But do you think that’s right?”

Passing on the captain’s armband at Vasco

Despite the public clash, a gesture of respect caught the attention of the most observant fans during the second half. The midfielder started the match as the team’s official captain, but had to be substituted by coach Renato Gaúcho. As he left the pitch, the defensive midfielder handed the armband to the Uruguayan defender himself, symbolizing that the hierarchy and mutual trust at Vasco remain intact even after the disagreement.

To prevent rumors of a possible internal rift from growing, the midfielder used his official Instagram profile to give his side of the story. He began his online statement by confirming the clash shown on television, but sought to downplay the incident at Vasco:

“At the end of the first half, as we were leaving the field, I had a disagreement with a teammate.”

+ CBF releases VAR audio of Vasco’s disallowed goal in the Copa do Brasil

Tactical explanation and focus on objectives

The player said the criticism came from a shared desire to improve the team’s performance. In his official statement, he said:

“I would just like to clarify that this is part of the game and happened in the heat of the moment, when emotions are often running high because we want what is best for the team and are trying to fix things that happened out there [on the pitch].”

The veteran player ended the statement by celebrating the advantage earned in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil. He stressed that the atmosphere is calm and focused on the next challenges of the season:

“Everything is fine and we remain focused on our goals for the season. The first step was taken in the Copa do Brasil, and we’re taking a positive result back to Rio de Janeiro. That’s what matters.”