Jorginho slams Brazilian calendar, sends message to the CBF | OneFootball

Jorginho mentioned that Flamengo have played many times this season

Jorginho gave an interview to the English newspaper The Times this Thursday (16) and spoke about several topics. Among the most controversial, the Flamengo midfielder criticized the Brazilian football calendar. The player mentioned the need for improvements and said the spectacle could be better with a reduction in the number of matches.

— Here in Brazil, it is even worse, honestly. Flamengo play, what, 70, 75 matches a year? [In the 2025 calendar, Flamengo played 75 matches with the first team.] Not counting those who also go to the national team. It is an absurd number of matches. There is no player who can play that many matches and not get injured, it’s impossible — said Jorginho.

— We have to be robots. From the outside, people think we need to be like that because they think we are well paid and have to go out there and play. And we do, because that is what we are paid for. But surely, if there were fewer matches in a season, the spectacle would be better, the quality would increase. It would be much better for everyone — concluded the Flamengo midfielder.

HOW WAS FLAMENGO’S LAST SEASON?

Flamengo were one of the teams that played the most in world football during 2025. That is because the Rubro-Negro side had a packed schedule, starting with the Campeonato Carioca. Soon after, they competed in the Supercopa do Brasil, the Club World Cup, the Brasileirão, the Copa do Brasil, the Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup.

During that period, Flamengo won the Campeonato Carioca against Fluminense. Then, they beat Botafogo in the Supercopa do Brasil final. Finally, they won the Brasileirão and the Copa Libertadores titles, defeating Palmeiras.

HOW WAS JORGINHO IN 2025?

Jorginho was announced by Flamengo on June 5, during the transfer window. Until December, the Rubro-Negro midfielder played in 32 matches, scoring five goals and providing three assists for his teammates.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE COMPARED TO ENGLAND?

So, by way of comparison, Jorginho had played 36 matches for Arsenal (ENG) in the previous season. In the season in which he finished third in the Ballon d’Or, the Italo-Brazilian midfielder played 43 times for Chelsea (ENG).

WHEN DO FLAMENGO PLAY?

Without Jorginho, who is currently under the care of the medical department, Flamengo remain focused on the next challenges of the season. That is because the Most Beloved take the field this Thursday (16) to face Independiente Medellín (COL) in the Copa Libertadores.

As usual, Coluna do Fla brings all the details of the Flamengo match, which kicks off at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at the Maracanã. Finally, ESPN, on pay TV, and Disney+, via streaming, will broadcast the Rubro-Negro side’s match.

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