10 years ago, Fluminense won the Primeira Liga thanks to Marcos Júnior | OneFootball

On this April 20, 2026, Fluminense marks ten years since winning the Primeira Liga. On that night in 2016, in Juiz de Fora, Tricolor beat Athletico-PR 1-0 and became champions again after 1,257 days without lifting a trophy.

The competition emerged amid a movement by clubs seeking more autonomy outside the state federations. With teams from the South, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro, including Flamengo and Fluminense, the tournament was played in a short format with knockout matches in the decisive stages.

On the pitch, Fluminense had a straightforward campaign. They opened with a 1-0 loss to Athletico-PR themselves, but bounced back right after. They beat Cruzeiro 4-3 at Mineirão in one of the tournament’s most action-packed matches, and closed the group stage with a 2-0 win over Criciúma. In the semifinal, they drew 2-2 with Internacional and advanced on penalties, winning 3-2.

Photo: GE

The final was played at Estádio Mário Helênio, in Juiz de Fora, chosen by Fluminense because of their better campaign and the impossibility of playing in the capital of Rio at that time. The city in Minas Gerais, just over an hour from Rio, welcomed a majority of Fluminense supporters in the stands.

The team coached by Levir Culpi took the field with Diego Cavalieri; Wellington Silva, Henrique, Gum and Giovanni; Pierre, Cícero, Gustavo Scarpa, Gerson and Osvaldo; Magno Alves. On the other side, Athletico-PR also arrived shorthanded, just like Fluminense, who were without Fred for the final after his suspension.

The match had two clear phases. Fluminense started better, pressing and creating chances, while the opponent grew into the first half with higher marking and direct balls. In the second half, the match remained balanced, with few clear opportunities.

The best chance until then had fallen to Magno Alves, who dribbled past the goalkeeper but could not finish. Shortly after, Levir brought on Marcos Júnior. The forward came on in the 19th minute and needed little time to decide it. In the 35th, he received a pass from Magno Alves, drove forward, and finished through Weverton’s legs to score the title-winning goal.

Photo: Flu-Memória – Archive

The 1-0 win ended a trophy drought that had lasted since the 2012 Brasileirão and secured Fluminense’s place as the first-ever Primeira Liga champions. The competition had a second edition in 2017, but did not continue in the following years because of scheduling, organizational, and behind-the-scenes problems.

Ten years later, what remains is the memory of a efficient campaign and a final decided by a single play. A title that did not change the club’s standing, but fulfilled its role at that moment and made Fluminense the first winner of a competition that was born with big ambitions and did not last long.

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