Flamengo taunt Fluminense after Chelsea heartbreak | OneFootball

Flamengo seized on Fluminense’s disappointing Club World Cup campaign to stoke the fires in one of Brazil’s most storied rivalries, according to Lance. After Fluminense exited the tournament following a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea—both goals scored by João Pedro, a Chelsea player who rose through Fluminense’s youth system but notably did not celebrate against his former club—Flamengo responded with a pointed nod to their own international triumph.

The Rubro-Negro used the moment to revisit a famous club anthem, invoking their 1981 Intercontinental Cup win over Liverpool. The lyrics, widely recognized by Flamengo supporters, recall how “in December ’81, we schooled the English, 3-0 against Liverpool, it went down in history,” and repeat the refrain: “Only Flamengo are world champions.” The song resurfaced prominently on club social media channels in the immediate aftermath of Fluminense’s loss, underlining Flamengo fans’ pride in their own global success and needling their city rivals at a moment of vulnerability.

On the pitch, Flamengo’s own attention quickly shifted back to domestic matters after a rest day and resumed training at Ninho do Urubu. The squad is preparing for their next key fixture against São Paulo, with a sequence of training sessions planned in the lead-up. While the players’ focus remains on the Brasileiro campaign, fan sentiment around rivalry moments like Fluminense’s World Cup elimination continues to play a central role in the club’s vibrant culture.

The rivalry between Rio’s two giants is sharpened by these moments of public taunting. Flamengo, with decades-old continental and global pedigree, regularly reference their 1981 achievement, especially when compared to Fluminense’s more recent but less internationally decorated history. The latest salvo was a reminder of how recent defeats are often used to reinforce established narratives on both sides of the divide.

(Sources: Lance)

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