Retirement home 'Fluminense' and the two to whom the title meant the most

Fluminense became the 26th different Copa Libertadores champion and the 11th Brazilian club with a continental title in their portfolios.

Everyone is now talking about the goals of German Cano and John Kennedy that knocked the famous Boca Juniors on their knees, and what few saw was that Fluminense achieved the club's greatest feat with a group of 'senior citizens' in their ranks. Goalkeeper Fabio is 43 years old, Felipe Melo 40, Marcelo 35, German Cano 35, Ganso 34, Cano 34... Half of the starting line-up in the title match was born in the eighties of the last century and have long passed their footballing peak.

Cano inflicted the first wound on Boca with his 13th goal and ended the Copa Libertadores as the top scorer, Fabio bewitched the attackers of the Argentinian great with his miniatures in the goal and the only shot he couldn't do anything about was one sent by Luis Advincula, while Marcelo and Felipe Melo held the last line of Fluminense with their experience. Although someone will probably blame this first for not reacting better with the equalizing goal.

Not only did they hold the defense, this title had a special meaning for Marcelo and Felipe Melo. It is not excluded that it may be the last in their careers and that they will retire after this, but they did not hide their emotions for a moment.

Undestilled South American madness! John Kennedy decides utterly crazy Copa Libertadores' final

Marcelo saw John Kennedy's brilliant move for 2-1 in the 99th minute from the bench, and while the young striker celebrated the biggest moment of his career so far, the famous Brazilian watched everything in tears and waited for the referee to blow the end of the game. The man who won everything with Real Madrid (the Champions League five times) one of the best left-backs of his time wanted to win something significant with his boyhood club in the fall of his career. And it came true for him.

"I felt that I had a debt to the club. Nothing was written, nothing was said. People criticized us, and today Fluminense is the champion of South America. Congratulations to everyone at the club, from the staff to the president. I was very nervous before the match, now I'm overjoyed," Marcelo said after the match.

Speaking to ESPN, Marcelo even said that this title is more important than anything he won with Real.

"Everything I took with Real is in the past. That's behind me, now the most important thing is to win and win with Fluminense. People from Real will understand that. Today is a special day. I won a very important title with my favorite club, a club that gave me everything I needed to have a great career, at a time when I was nobody. There is nothing more beautiful than that, this is a priceless moment," said the famous Brazilian and added:

"I am living the best moment of my career. I returned to my homeland after 16 years, my son saw me win the Copa Libertadores. He told me that we will win the trophy. He didn't ask for it, he already knew we were winning. He is eight years old. It is something very beautiful. The joy of the fans is priceless, this is the happiest day of my life."

After the infamous episode in Olympiakos, the Brazilian got what he was looking for - a chance to say goodbye to football with a trophy in his hands. There are no signs yet of him hanging up his football boots, but having fulfilled his biggest dream with his boyhood club, he can now comfortably enjoy life...

While Marcelo somehow refrained from showing emotions until he was sure that Fluminense would sit on the throne, Felipe Melo showed how much this moment means to him even during the playing of the Brazilian national anthem at the Maracana. Emotions overcame him before, and especially after winning the trophy when he sobbed and gave statements. It is not his first success in the Copa Libertadores, since he has already been on the roof of South America twice with Palmeiras, but obviously this success was special. Maybe because of the fact that he became champion for the third time at the age of 40!

"It was very difficult for Fluminense to win the title. We played against fierce competition, River, Olimpia, Argentinos Juniors and Internacional, teams that have already won the Copa Libertadores," said the temperamental Brazilian who had to end the game in the 52nd minute due to a muscle injury, but up until then he had done the job almost perfectly.

Melo took his third Copa Libertadores and now has as many as living Boca legend Juan Roman Riquelme. Although tears were streaming down his face, he did not forget the current vice-president of the rival club and expressed his admiration.

"Yes, this is my third cup in the competition, now I can say that I have as many as Riquelme. We won this trophy because our blood flowed instead of sweat. We dreamed about this night and thought about it every day, this is for our fans who have been with us the whole time. And when Boca equalized, all these people stayed with us and believed. They cheered even harder. I am very proud of everyone in the team, thanks to Jesus Christ who led us to the title".

What will hurt Boca fans a lot besides the unsuccessful attempt to get their club's seventh title is that the victory of Fluminense was contributed by a few passionate fans of the Argentinian giant. The first is German Cano, and the second is Felipe Melo.

"It's one of the best clubs on the continent, I'm not ashamed to say publicly that I support Boca", once admitted the Brazilian.

Life writes novels...

PLAYERS WHO HAVE WON BOTH THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AND COPA LIBERTADORES

Dida (Brazil) Milan 2003, 2007 - Cruzeiro 1997

Cafu (Brazil) Milan 2007 – Sao Paulo 1992, 1993

Juan Pablo Sorin (Argentina) Juventus 1996 - River Plate 1996

Roque Junior (Brazil) Milan 2003 – Palmeiras 1999

Carlos Tevez (Argentina) Manchester United 2008 – Boca Juniors 2003

Walter Samuel (Argentina) Inter Milan2010 - Boca Juniors 2000

Ronaldinho (Brazil) Barcelona 2006 – Atlético Mineiro 2013

Neymar (Brazil) Barcelona 2015 – Santos 2011

Danilo (Brazil) Real Madrid 2016, 2017 – Santos 2011

Rafinha (Brazil) Bayern Munich 2013 – Flamengo 2019

Ramires (Brazil) Chelsea 2012 - Palmeiras 2020

David Luiz (Brazil) Chelsea 2012 – Flamengo 2022

Julián Alvarez (Argentina) - Manchester City 2023 - River Plate 2018

Marcelo (Brazil) – Real Madrid 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022 – Fluminense 2023