In interview, former Corinthians players recall 1990 Brasileirão triumph

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Central do Timão

·16 de dezembro de 2025

In interview, former Corinthians players recall 1990 Brasileirão triumph

By Daniel Keppler / Central do Timão Editorial Team

December 16 is a very special day for Corinthians and its fans. In addition to marking the date when the People’s Team conquered the world for the second time by defeating Chelsea-ENG in the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup, it is also the day when, years earlier, the club lifted its first Brazilian Championship trophy after beating São Paulo in 1990—exactly 35 years ago.

To remember this historic moment for Timão, the portal ge.globo interviewed two of the great figures from that victory: forward Fabinho and midfielder Tupãzinho, the hero who scored the goal that secured the title for Corinthians. A goal, in fact, that also marked his life and career, according to him:

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Photo: Daniel Augusto Jr/Ag. Corinthians

“It was a goal that changed my life. I wasn’t Tupãzinho the talisman yet. The nickname came in ‘92, ‘93. But that goal had a huge impact on my life, on my career. More than 100,000 people in the stadium. Fans always talk about that game and it’s great, that recognition. We’re forever part of history.”

He recalls the prize he received at the time, which he considers the biggest he ever got in his career. “The bonus was a share of the gate that the president gave us. It was the fattest bonus I ever got in my career. I bought a three-alqueire ranch in Tupã, which I still have,” he explained.

The play that led to the historic goal was built with Fabinho, and the friendship between the two has gone beyond the boundaries of Parque São Jorge, lasting to this day: “We both had long hair and sometimes people even confused us. Fabinho has always been exceptional, a great friend, like a brother. He’s the guy I talk to the most. We’re always in touch. I always joke with Fabinho that I passed him the ball to score and he didn’t (laughs).”

Fabinho, in turn, plays down the moment, saying it was meant for his friend to finish and secure the win for Alvinegro. “I didn’t hit the ball well. It was too close to my body. I was already worn out from the game, which was very tense, lots of running, and I also had to track back to defend. I ended up mishitting when I tried to shoot, but it fell to Tupãzinho. That was the peak,” he recalls.

For the former forward, no one in that group deserved to score the goal more than Tupãzinho, because of his connection to the club: “Tupã was the guy who deserved it, for the championship he had, for what he meant to the group, it was very important that he scored the goal. No one deserved it more than him at that moment.”

Asked about the moment during the campaign when the squad felt the title was possible, Tupãzinho replied: “The turning point was when we qualified among the final eight. The squad was fantastic, very united, the guys were warriors. The president was Vicente Matheus and the team wasn’t built to be champions. It was just to stay in the division, but things just happened.”

Fabinho agreed with his friend. “It was deserved for everything we went through in the competition. We were never the favorites and never valued. We played against opponents who were considered superior and even so there was doubt. Every moment we had to prove we weren’t what they thought,” he explained, concluding.

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