Emerson Royal names 'culprit' for miss in Flamengo v São Paulo

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Coluna do Fla

·27 July 2026

Emerson Royal names 'culprit' for miss in Flamengo v São Paulo

How did Royal perform in Flamengo vs. São Paulo?

Flamengo drew 1-1 with São Paulo this Sunday (26) in a match valid for the 20th round of the Brasileirão. After the game, full-back Emerson Royal regretted the missed chance in the final moments of the match and blamed the protective mask he wears.

— I like it, and I’m adapting well to the mask. But yes, in situations where I need to head the ball to direct it, when it hits the mask it’s very difficult. Because it cushions it and sometimes changes the ball’s trajectory -, the full-back began.

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— In that play, if I hadn’t been wearing the mask, I believe I would have had a great chance to score. That’s also one of my characteristics (heading). But it’s part of it. I’m wearing the mask and I have to adapt to it -, he added, before finishing:

— It was a game we wanted to win, for sure, but that doesn’t change our confidence. We know this is Flamengo, that we have potential, that we know our worth. So we can’t let a bad result, in quotation marks, interfere with the confidence we have. And now we’re going to Beira-Rio to go after the three points -, Royal concluded.

Why does Emerson Royal wear a protective mask?

Emerson Royal fractured his nose in the 1-1 draw between Flamengo and Estudiantes (ARG) on April 29, in the third round of the Libertadores. Since then, the full-back has been wearing a protective mask on the area to complete the treatment.

Is Emerson Royal enjoying his best moment at Flamengo?

The match against São Paulo was Emerson Royal’s second straight game as a Flamengo starter. With that, the full-back pushed back against the criticism and said he is experiencing one of the best moments of his career.

I’m going to disagree with you. I believe I’ve been having a very good season, not just after the break for the World Cup. I try not to pay attention to what is said outside. I know my value, my potential, what I can deliver. I’ve been doing that since the beginning of the year. (…) I believe I’m in one of the best moments of my career, not just here at Flamengo. This is where I feel physically at my best, and technically I’ve improved a lot with the arrival of (Leonardo) Jardim as well. And I believe I still have a lot to grow, to learn, and I’m going to keep going in that direction,” the player said.

What are Royal’s numbers in 2026?

Flamengo completed the signing of Emerson Royal in July 2025, after Wesley was sold. Since then, the player has been competing with Guillermo Varela for the starting spot at right-back. In the 2026 season, the No. 22 has made 23 appearances and provided four assists.

What is Flamengo’s next game?

With Emerson Royal available, Flamengo return to the pitch this Wednesday (29) to face Internacional. The match will take place at 7:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at Beira-Rio Stadium, for the 21st round of the Brazilian Championship.

So, as tradition dictates, Coluna do Fla brings you all the details about Flamengo in the 2026 season. So stay tuned to the website, social media, and YouTube. In addition, Prime Video (streaming) will broadcast the match against Internacional.

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