Felipe Melo hails Flamengo and outlines route back to Club World Cup glory | OneFootball

According to Coluna Do Fla, Felipe Melo has praised Flamengo’s 2025 Club World Cup final performance and said they need the game of their lives to try to win the tournament, speaking at the Olé Summit 2026.

Flamengo reached the final after defeating Cruz Azul and Pyramids. In the decider against PSG, billed as clear favourites, Filipe Luís’s side forced penalties after a 1-1 draw across 120 minutes.

Kvaratskhelia put the French club ahead before half-time, then Jorginho levelled after the break. With the tie locked, PSG prevailed in the shootout as Flamengo missed four kicks, sealing their first world title.

Melo noted that Flamengo, as a South American side, have the power to recruit top players. He highlighted their fantastic display against Paris Saint-Germain and accepted the penalty defeat, adding that such a level must be repeated to have a chance of victory.

Flamengo have lifted the Club World Cup before, in 1981. After winning the Libertadores, they beat Liverpool 3-0 in Tokyo, with Nunes scoring twice and Adílio also on target.

The Rio club could return to the competition in 2026. Leonardo Jardim’s team are in the Libertadores semi-finals against Estudiantes, and if they claim the title they will qualify for the intercontinental tournament.

Source: Coluna Do Fla

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