Rafael Sobis calls Jorginho ‘best Brazilian player’ and thanks Flamengo

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Coluna do Fla

·16 September 2026

Rafael Sobis calls Jorginho ‘best Brazilian player’ and thanks Flamengo

Rafael Sobis said it is a privilege to watch the Flamengo midfielder on the pitch

Even the haters tip their hats to Jorginho. That’s because former player Rafael Sobis, an Internacional idol, said it is a privilege to watch the Flamengo midfielder play. As a result, the commentator thanked the Rubro-Negro for bringing the Italo-Brazilian player to Brazil.

What did Rafael Sobis say about Jorginho?

– Watching Jorginho play is one of the most beautiful things in the world. Thank you for bringing him to Brazil. I think he is by far the best Brazilian player. It’s a gift for Brazil to have Jorginho here -, he said during appearances on GE TV.

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How did Jorginho arrive at Flamengo?

Jorginho arrived in Brazilian football after a long spell in Europe, with stints at major clubs on the continent. Thus, his move to Rubro-Negro represented the midfielder’s return to his home country after years of an established career in European leagues.

Then, the positive impact of Jorginho was immediate at Flamengo during the Club World Cup in 2025. In that same year, the midfielder won the Libertadores and the Brasileirão as a starter under Filipe Luís.

Can Jorginho be called up to the Italian National Team?

The possibility of Jorginho being called up again to the Italian National Team has also been discussed again recently. That’s because the player’s name is on coach Roberto Mancini’s preliminary list, with the final squad to be announced on September 25.

Why is Rafael Sobis seen as anti-Flamengo?

That “hater” label also has a recent and very specific explanation. Rafael Sobis publicly bet against Flamengo advancing in the 2025 Libertadores semifinal. On that occasion, the commentator predicted elimination against Racing (ARG) in the second leg in Argentina. However, Mengão went through and then went on to win that edition.

When and where to watch Flamengo vs. Del Valle?

Flamengo will play this Thursday (17) at the Maracanã. The opponent is Independiente del Valle (ECU), in the second leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals. Kickoff is at 9:30 p.m. Brasília time. ESPN, on cable TV, and Disney+, via streaming, will broadcast the match live.

What is the author’s opinion on Sobis’ statement?

The truth is that Sobis’ statement only shows how Brazilian football failed to recognize Jorginho’s talent when he was young. Besides that, the player also had some bad luck,” said João Vítor Reis from Coluna do Fla, who added: “After all, no matter how talented he is, Jorginho became naturalized to play for an Italy side that has missed three World Cup editions. In fact, the possibility of him being called up worries me a lot, since he is a 34-year-old player who regularly shows signs of physical wear,” he opined.

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