Corinthians icon reacts to Libertadores quarter-final exit, slams team | OneFootball

Corinthians hosted Argentina’s Estudiantes on the night of last Wednesday (16) at Neo Química Arena in the second leg of the 2026 Conmebol Libertadores quarterfinals and suffered a narrow defeat. The loss meant the Alvinegro bowed out of the international tournament after being beaten 2-1 on aggregate.

A few hours after the match, former striker Edilson Capetinha, who had a memorable spell at Corinthians between 1997 and 2000, posted a video on his Instagram account on his birthday lamenting the club’s elimination from the Libertadores and stating that people on social media and in the sports press are using Timão’s poor institutional moment to influence the fans’ opinion. He also took the opportunity to downplay the penalty missed by Memphis Depay in the final play of the game, which could have leveled the match, saying that “it’s part of the game.”

Pisco Del Gaiso/Placar

“Today is a special day for me, it’s my birthday, I’m at home. I wasn’t going to come out and make any comments today, but I am going to comment. Corinthians fans, pay close attention to what I’m saying. Don’t get worked up by these people, by the press, by people who want to stir things up even more so our team keeps going downhill. We are Corinthians. Memphis missed the penalty, I’m p#ssed off and upset just like you. But it happens, it’s part of the game,” he began.

Instead of pinning Corinthians’ elimination solely on striker Memphis Depay, Edilson went on to criticize the team’s performances over the two matches and mentioned the suffering and dedication of Corinthians fans who follow the team in every game.

“The worst part was that Corinthians didn’t play anything the entire match. That’s what kills us, that’s what hurts. We believe, we make sacrifices. There are people in the stadium who don’t even have money to eat, but they buy a ticket and leave upset. But let’s not get worked up by others. You know that saying, you can fight with your brother, with your family, but if someone from outside comes and picks a fight, we get p#ssed off? We have to get p#ssed off at these guys who are talking badly about our team,” he continued.

In the final part of his statement, he again warned Corinthians fans about members of the sports press who do not want what is best for the club and who are taking advantage of Corinthians’ poor institutional moment to influence opinions.

“I know Corinthians fans are hurt, upset. I know Corinthians fans make every sacrifice, possible and impossible, to be able to go to the games. Sometimes these guys spend money they don’t even have. That’s what Corinthians has always been and always will be. I was analyzing it, Corinthians fans, pay close attention to what I’m saying. I see that there are a lot of people in the press who want to hurt Corinthians even more. Corinthians is already a little troubled, but there are a lot of people who want to make it even worse. And then they keep stirring things up, and if we fall for that, something that is already bad will get even worse,” he concluded.

In total, wearing the Corinthians shirt, Edilson scored 55 goals in 162 matches (136 as a starter), with 79 wins, 35 draws, and 49 losses — a 55.6% success rate. In addition, he won four titles: the Brazilian Championship (1998 and 1999), the Paulista Championship (1999), and the Club World Cup (2000).

From now on, Corinthians turn their attention to the only competition they have left this season. This is because, on Sunday (20), before the break for the FIFA international window, the Alvinegro will host Fluminense, also at Neo Química Arena, at 4 p.m. (Brasília time), in the 28th round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship. Timão currently sit only 14th with 32 points — eight wins, eight draws, and 11 losses — with 28 goals scored and 29 conceded, just four points above the relegation zone, where Vasco da Gama currently sit as the first team, with 28 points from 26 matches.

Campaign and total prize money received for the 2026 Libertadores run

In the group stage, the club from Parque São Jorge topped Group E with 11 points — three wins, two draws, and one loss — alongside Platense-ARG, Peñarol-URU, and Santa Fé-COL. In the round of 16, they got past Rosario Central-ARG after winning 1-0 on aggregate — 0-0 in the first leg (in Argentina) and 1-0 in the return leg. Finally, in the quarterfinals, they were beaten by Estudiantes-ARG.

For taking part in the group stage, Corinthians received 1 million dollars. For each group-stage win, they earned 340 thousand dollars — 1.02 million dollars for the three victories. Qualification for the round of 16 brought the Alvinegro 1.25 million dollars. For reaching the quarterfinals, after eliminating Rosario Central-ARG in the round of 16, Fernando Diniz’s team earned another 1.7 million dollars. Altogether, that totaled 4.97 million dollars, around R$ 25.55 million.

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