Flamengo react after Ballon d'Or nomination | OneFootball

Flamengo received the nomination this Tuesday (08)

Top 5 in the world! Flamengo is one of the standout teams of the last season, according to the French magazine France Football, through the Ballon d’Or. Now, the Most Beloved is fighting to take first place. After being nominated as a finalist for the traditional trophy, the Rubro-Negro released a statement commenting on the situation.

“Flamengo proudly received the nomination for the Best Club of the Year award at the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The club is among the five finalists in the category that recognizes the institutions that stood out the most in world football, alongside European clubs Arsenal (ENG), Bayern Munich (GER), Bodo/Glimt (NOR), and Paris Saint-Germain (FRA),” the club began.

“For Flamengo, being among the nominees represents important recognition of a journey that combines sporting performance, institutional growth, and the strengthening of the club’s presence on the international stage,” Mengão added.

THE BALLON D’OR

The period considered for the award covers the season between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026. During that span, Flamengo won the 2025 Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian Championship, cementing one of the most significant seasons in its recent history.

“More than the results on the pitch, the nomination also comes at a time of transformation for the club. Flamengo has been moving forward in its professionalization process, improving its management, expanding its business fronts, strengthening its brand, and seeking new ways to connect with a Nation of millions of supporters in Brazil and around the world,” Flamengo highlighted.

“The nomination also represents recognition of the strength of an institution that goes beyond the four lines. The size of the fan base, the relevance of the brand, the ability to create connections, and Flamengo’s impact on sport and society are all part of a journey that has been built over decades and is now gaining even more international prominence. For Flamengo, being among the clubs considered the best in the world is a source of pride, but it also reinforces the commitment to keep evolving and raising its standards in every area,” the club concluded.

DATE

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held on October 26 in London. Besides Flamengo, another red-and-black representative will also be in contention: Vini Jr. A product of Mengão’s academy, the Real Madrid (ESP) forward will try to win the title. The attacker’s best finish in the award came in 2024, when he placed second, losing to Rodri.

AUTHOR’S OPINION

— We know it’s very difficult for Flamengo to win, since the award tends to favor Europeans more. It’s very hard to see PSG not taking this one because of the Champions League title and the Club World Cup itself, against Mengão. But just being among the five nominees is spectacular. International recognition for the biggest team in the Americas —, opined Pedro Paulo Catonho, journalist for Coluna do Fla.  

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