Matheus Gonçalves says goodbye after Flamengo’s world title: “Special feeling” | OneFootball

Matheus Gonçalves said it was the last conquest in the under-20 category

WORLD CHAMPION FOR THE SECOND TIME! Flamengo won, for the second year in a row, the Under-20 World Championship title. This Saturday (23), the most beloved team drew 2-2 with Barcelona (ESP) in regular time and lifted the trophy in the penalties. After the trophy, Matheus Gonçalves gave an interview in a tone of farewell. Not from the club, but from the under-20 category.

— It's a special taste, isn't it? As I said last year, we are raised together, we are all raised together since we were young, so it's very happy, it has a special taste because it's with them, isn't it? In the last year of under-20, it's my last title with the under-20 —, started Matheus Gonçalves.

— We thank you for the match, we thank you for the illuminated night, which (goalkeeper) Léo (Nannetti) was illuminated, so, for sure, this victory has to have Léo. But everyone is to be congratulated, (coach) Bruno (Pivetti) too, for the work he is doing with us in the under-20. Very grateful. We are champions twice, aren't we? So, very happy, grateful to God for everything —, added.

MATHEUS GONÇALVES ALMOST BECAME THE VILLAIN?

Flamengo opened the scoring just ten minutes in, with Lorran. However, Barcelona managed to turn the game around in the second half. One of the goals even happened at 49 minutes into the second half. However, at 50’, Iago, with a header, took the game to penalties.

In the penalty shootout, Matheus Gonçalves was responsible for the fifth shot, the one that would guarantee the trophy. However, the number 10 was 'saved' by Léo Nanneti, who caught two penalties. In addition, in regular time, the goalkeeper simply closed the goal, preventing Barcelona's title.

WHO IS THE BIGGEST UNDER-20 WORLD CHAMPION?

With the second consecutive world title, Flamengo became the biggest champion of the tournament in the category. The competition, which reached its fourth edition, also has Benfica (POR) and Boca Juniors (ARG). To dispute the third title in 2026, Mengão needs to win the Libertadores of the category next year.

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