Júnior Baiano puts Flamengo’s world crown over Brazil hexa, recalls 1992 final | OneFootball

Júnior Baiano, a 1999 Libertadores winner with Palmeiras, reaffirmed his Flamengo roots and said he would choose a second world crown for the club over Brazil’s hexa.

According to Arena Fla, he put club before country and underlined that Flamengo come first for him.

Asked for his standout Flamengo match, he picked the first leg of the 1992 Brasileiro final, a 3-0 win over Botafogo. The Rubro-Negro then drew 2-2 in the return and, at the time, sealed their penta.

A youth product, he had three spells with Flamengo, 1989-1993, 1996-1997 and 2004, winning the 1990 Copa do Brasil and the 1992 league. He first caught wider attention in 1990 with the Copinha decider, scoring against Juventus-SP with a deft chip.

Called up for the 1998 World Cup, Júnior Baiano signed for Palmeiras soon after and won the Copa Mercosul in 1998 and the Libertadores in 1999. Despite his bond with Flamengo, he is often more recognised by Palmeiras supporters.

For Brazil, four matches remain to the hexa. Carlo Ancelotti’s side are in the World Cup round of 16 against Norway on Sunday 05 at 17h, Brasília time, at the Estádio de Nova York e Nova Jersey in the United States.

Flamengo’s route to a bimundial is longer, with 10 matches ahead. They must win the Libertadores, facing Cruzeiro in the round of 16, then lift the Dérbi das Américas and the Challenger Cup, before meeting PSG (FRA) in the intercontinental final.

Source: Coluna Do Fla