Recopa Sudamericana

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Flamengo's history in this competition includes three distinct participations. Their first two encounters ended with victories and defeats against Independiente del Valle, occurring in 2020 and 2023 respectively. Before facing Lanús in 2026, the Argentine club had already tasted defeat in the Recopa once before; they lost their inaugural appearance in 2014 to Brazilian side Atlético Mineiro. The rivalry between Flamengo and Lanús is not new to continental football, as the two sides previously met in Group 2 of the 2012 Copa Libertadores. Alongside Ecuador's Emelec and Paraguay's Olimpia, they formed a competitive group where Flamengo managed one win and one draw against Lanús. Despite that positive record against their future Recopa opponents, Flamengo finished third in the group and were eliminated, while Lanús advanced as the group winner to the knockout rounds.

In Their Own Story

The 2026 edition unfolded over two legs in February, with Lanús taking the initiative at Estadio Ciudad de Lanús on 19 February. The return fixture took place six days later at Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro on 26 February. Key absences shaped the narrative for Flamengo: Saúl missed both legs due to injury, while Jorginho was ruled out of the first leg because of injury and Gonzalo Plata sat out that same match due to suspension. The competition rules stated that if the aggregate score were tied after regulation, 30 minutes of extra time would be played, followed by a penalty shoot-out if necessary. In this specific instance, Lanús overcame Flamengo with a 4–2 aggregate victory, securing their first-ever Recopa Sudamericana trophy and denying Flamengo a third title in six years.

Reader's Guide

Fans of the 2026 edition should note the specific scheduling and format rules that defined the tournament. The competition adhered strictly to a two-legged home-and-away structure where the Copa Libertadores winner hosts the second leg, meaning Flamengo played their decisive match at Maracanã. Prior to kickoff on 19 February, supporters needed to track injury reports closely; Saúl was confirmed unavailable for both matches, and the first leg saw the absence of Jorginho (injury) and Gonzalo Plata (suspension). The tie-breaking procedure was clear: no away goals rule applied, but rather a direct progression to 30 minutes of extra time if the aggregate score was level after full-time. If the deadlock persisted, a penalty shoot-out would determine the champion. Lanús successfully navigated these conditions to win their first title.

Did You Know?

• This was Lanús's first-ever Recopa Sudamericana title.
• Lanús previously lost their only other Recopa appearance in 2014 to Atlético Mineiro.
• Flamengo and Lanús faced each other in Group 2 of the 2012 Copa Libertadores, where Lanús advanced as group winner despite Flamengo winning one match against them.
• Gonzalo Plata missed the first leg due to suspension, while Saúl missed both legs due to injury.
• The second leg was hosted by Flamengo at Maracanã on 26 February 2026.