Football Season Guide

Vasco da Gama’s 2025 season was one of resilience and noteworthy moments. In Série A they finished 14th, securing safety but well outside the top places, and endured a tough campaign with more defeats than wins. In the Copa do Brasil they excelled, reaching the final before losing 2–1 to Corinthians. In the Copa Sul-Americana they advanced from the group stage but were eliminated in the knockout play-offs. Young talented winger Rayan was Vasco's main player of the season, while striker Andres Gomez made an instant impact after arriving in the middle of the season. Young midfielder Cauan Barros had his affirmation in top flight level and will be one to put an eye on for the next season. Fernando Diniz is one of the most exciting managers in Brazil, and was considered the future for Brazilian football a couple of years ago after a series of successes and impressive football at Fluminense. However, some of his ideas was cracked down by rivals and the "Dinizismo" was exposed and defeated. With Vasco, he is trying to revive some of his ideas but he needs time to shape the team to them. Botafogo hasn't been too busy in this transfer window, having brought two foreigners: centre-half Saldivia and winger Rojas. The former has decent chances of becoming a XI regular and a true asset for the club. There weren't many significant departures. Striker Vegetti had been the club's most notorious player in a few years, but he had lost his first team status by the end of last season. Rising star Rayan is about to leave. If confirmed, he will left Vasco with a serious problem in attack, to add on the lack of important strikers. Goalkeeper Leo Jardim is the most indispensable player on the squad. Holding midfielder Cauan Barros (affirmation of last season) and the reliable winger Nuno Moreira are two incontested units on the XI. The fans are still hoping that big name Phillipe Coutinho will revive some of his aura in 2026.