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Botafogo Fans: Pride and Glory

ByAndré Coelho
  • A Botafogo fan gestures during the final match of the CONMEBOL Libertadores cup against Atletico Mineiro on november 30, 2024. Thousands of Botafogo fans gathered to watch the match in big screens at the Nilton Santos stadium, the team’s stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The two traditional brazilian soccer teams played the final match at Mâs Monumental Stadium, in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Botafogo is one of the most traditional soccer teams in Brazil and won the CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup for the first time in its history, the most important competition between South America’s soccer clubs. Two of Brazil’s oldest and most venerable football clubs met at the Mâs Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the final match of the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL) Libertadores cup. Botafogo, a team that has never won the cup, defeated its rivals Atlético Mineiro 3-1. Thousands of Botafogo fans, watching the match on screens at the Nilton Santos Stadium, the team’s home stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gather together to experience not only collective joy in victory, but relief and redemption.
The Copa Libertadores is about more than just determining the best football club in any given year in South America; the cup transcends sport, symbolizing national pride, identity, and a country’s history. Despite Botafogo’s storied past, the club has never won the Copa.
  • A Botafogo fan watches closely a play in during the final match of the CONMEBOL Libertadores cup against Atletico Mineiro on november 30, 2024. Thousands of Botafogo fans gathered to watch the match in big screens at the Nilton Santos stadium, the team’s stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The two traditional brazilian soccer teams played the final match at Mâs Monumental Stadium, in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Botafogo is one of the most traditional soccer teams in Brazil and won the CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup for the first time in its history, the most important competition between South America’s soccer clubs. Two of Brazil’s oldest and most venerable football clubs met at the Mâs Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the final match of the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL) Libertadores cup. Botafogo, a team that has never won the cup, defeated its rivals Atlético Mineiro 3-1. Thousands of Botafogo fans, watching the match on screens at the Nilton Santos Stadium, the team’s home stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gather together to experience not only collective joy in victory, but relief and redemption.
The Copa Libertadores is about more than just determining the best football club in any given year in South America; the cup transcends sport, symbolizing national pride, identity, and a country’s history. Despite Botafogo’s storied past, the club has never won the Copa.
  • Botafogo fans react during the last minutes of the final match of the CONMEBOL Libertadores cup against Atletico Mineiro on november 30, 2024. Thousands of Botafogo fans gathered to watch the match in big screens at the Nilton Santos stadium, the team’s stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The two traditional brazilian soccer teams played the final match at Mâs Monumental Stadium, in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Botafogo is one of the most traditional soccer teams in Brazil and won the CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup for the first time in its history, the most important competition between South America’s soccer clubs. Two of Brazil’s oldest and most venerable football clubs met at the Mâs Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the final match of the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL) Libertadores cup. Botafogo, a team that has never won the cup, defeated its rivals Atlético Mineiro 3-1. Thousands of Botafogo fans, watching the match on screens at the Nilton Santos Stadium, the team’s home stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gather together to experience not only collective joy in victory, but relief and redemption.
The Copa Libertadores is about more than just determining the best football club in any given year in South America; the cup transcends sport, symbolizing national pride, identity, and a country’s history. Despite Botafogo’s storied past, the club has never won the Copa.
  • Botafogo fans celebrate after the end of the final match of the CONMEBOL Libertadores cup against Atletico Mineiro on november 30, 2024. Thousands of Botafogo fans gathered to watch the match in big screens at the Nilton Santos stadium, the team’s stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The two traditional brazilian soccer teams played the final match at Mâs Monumental Stadium, in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Botafogo is one of the most traditional soccer teams in Brazil and won the CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup for the first time in its history, the most important competition between South America’s soccer clubs. Two of Brazil’s oldest and most venerable football clubs met at the Mâs Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the final match of the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL) Libertadores cup. Botafogo, a team that has never won the cup, defeated its rivals Atlético Mineiro 3-1. Thousands of Botafogo fans, watching the match on screens at the Nilton Santos Stadium, the team’s home stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gather together to experience not only collective joy in victory, but relief and redemption.
The Copa Libertadores is about more than just determining the best football club in any given year in South America; the cup transcends sport, symbolizing national pride, identity, and a country’s history. Despite Botafogo’s storied past, the club has never won the Copa.
  • Botafogo fans celebrate after the end of the final match of the CONMEBOL Libertadores cup against Atletico Mineiro on november 30, 2024. Thousands of Botafogo fans gathered to watch the match in big screens at the Nilton Santos stadium, the team’s stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The two traditional brazilian soccer teams played the final match at Mâs Monumental Stadium, in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Botafogo is one of the most traditional soccer teams in Brazil and won the CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup for the first time in its history, the most important competition between South America’s soccer clubs. Two of Brazil’s oldest and most venerable football clubs met at the Mâs Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the final match of the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL) Libertadores cup. Botafogo, a team that has never won the cup, defeated its rivals Atlético Mineiro 3-1. Thousands of Botafogo fans, watching the match on screens at the Nilton Santos Stadium, the team’s home stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gather together to experience not only collective joy in victory, but relief and redemption.
The Copa Libertadores is about more than just determining the best football club in any given year in South America; the cup transcends sport, symbolizing national pride, identity, and a country’s history. Despite Botafogo’s storied past, the club has never won the Copa.
  • Botafogo fans celebrate after the end of the final match of the CONMEBOL Libertadores cup against Atletico Mineiro on november 30, 2024. Thousands of Botafogo fans gathered to watch the match in big screens at the Nilton Santos stadium, the team’s stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The two traditional brazilian soccer teams played the final match at Mâs Monumental Stadium, in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Botafogo is one of the most traditional soccer teams in Brazil and won the CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup for the first time in its history, the most important competition between South America’s soccer clubs. Two of Brazil’s oldest and most venerable football clubs met at the Mâs Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the final match of the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL) Libertadores cup. Botafogo, a team that has never won the cup, defeated its rivals Atlético Mineiro 3-1. Thousands of Botafogo fans, watching the match on screens at the Nilton Santos Stadium, the team’s home stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gather together to experience not only collective joy in victory, but relief and redemption.
The Copa Libertadores is about more than just determining the best football club in any given year in South America; the cup transcends sport, symbolizing national pride, identity, and a country’s history. Despite Botafogo’s storied past, the club has never won the Copa.
  • Botafogo fans celebrate after the end of the final match of the CONMEBOL Libertadores cup against Atletico Mineiro on november 30, 2024. Thousands of Botafogo fans gathered to watch the match in big screens at the Nilton Santos stadium, the team’s stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The two traditional brazilian soccer teams played the final match at Mâs Monumental Stadium, in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Botafogo is one of the most traditional soccer teams in Brazil and won the CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup for the first time in its history, the most important competition between South America’s soccer clubs. Two of Brazil’s oldest and most venerable football clubs met at the Mâs Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the final match of the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL) Libertadores cup. Botafogo, a team that has never won the cup, defeated its rivals Atlético Mineiro 3-1. Thousands of Botafogo fans, watching the match on screens at the Nilton Santos Stadium, the team’s home stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gather together to experience not only collective joy in victory, but relief and redemption.
The Copa Libertadores is about more than just determining the best football club in any given year in South America; the cup transcends sport, symbolizing national pride, identity, and a country’s history. Despite Botafogo’s storied past, the club has never won the Copa.
  • Botafogo fans celebrate a goal during the final match of the CONMEBOL Libertadores cup against Atletico Mineiro on november 30, 2024. Thousands of Botafogo fans gathered to watch the match in big screens at the Nilton Santos stadium, the team’s stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The two traditional brazilian soccer teams played the final match at Mâs Monumental Stadium, in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Botafogo is one of the most traditional soccer teams in Brazil and won the CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup for the first time in its history, the most important competition between South America’s soccer clubs. Two of Brazil’s oldest and most venerable football clubs met at the Mâs Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the final match of the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL) Libertadores cup. Botafogo, a team that has never won the cup, defeated its rivals Atlético Mineiro 3-1. Thousands of Botafogo fans, watching the match on screens at the Nilton Santos Stadium, the team’s home stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gather together to experience not only collective joy in victory, but relief and redemption.
The Copa Libertadores is about more than just determining the best football club in any given year in South America; the cup transcends sport, symbolizing national pride, identity, and a country’s history. Despite Botafogo’s storied past, the club has never won the Copa.
  • A Botafogo fan gestures during the final match of the CONMEBOL Libertadores cup against Atletico Mineiro on november 30, 2024. Thousands of Botafogo fans gathered to watch the match in big screens at the Nilton Santos stadium, the team’s stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The two traditional brazilian soccer teams played the final match at Mâs Monumental Stadium, in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Botafogo is one of the most traditional soccer teams in Brazil and won the CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup for the first time in its history, the most important competition between South America’s soccer clubs. Two of Brazil’s oldest and most venerable football clubs met at the Mâs Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the final match of the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL) Libertadores cup. Botafogo, a team that has never won the cup, defeated its rivals Atlético Mineiro 3-1. Thousands of Botafogo fans, watching the match on screens at the Nilton Santos Stadium, the team’s home stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gather together to experience not only collective joy in victory, but relief and redemption.
The Copa Libertadores is about more than just determining the best football club in any given year in South America; the cup transcends sport, symbolizing national pride, identity, and a country’s history. Despite Botafogo’s storied past, the club has never won the Copa.

Botafogo fans celebrate after the end of the final match of the CONMEBOL Libertadores cup against Atletico Mineiro on november 30, 2024. Thousands of Botafogo fans gathered to watch the match in big screens at the Nilton Santos stadium, the team’s stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The two traditional brazilian soccer teams played the final match at Mâs Monumental Stadium, in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Botafogo is one of the most traditional soccer teams in Brazil and won the CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup for the first time in its history, the most important competition between South America’s soccer clubs.


Two of Brazil’s oldest and most venerable football clubs met at the Mâs Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the final match of the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL) Libertadores cup. Botafogo, a team that has never won the cup, defeated its rivals Atlético Mineiro 3-1. Thousands of Botafogo fans, watching the match on screens at the Nilton Santos Stadium, the team’s home stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gather together to experience not only collective joy in victory, but relief and redemption.
The Copa Libertadores is about more than just determining the best football club in any given year in South America; the cup transcends sport, symbolizing national pride, identity, and a country’s history. Despite Botafogo’s storied past, the club has never won the Copa. Many of its fans viewed the match with a sense of dread mixed with excitement, which is why the final victory was met with a wave of cathartic emotion captured at its peak in this image. These two guys didn’t know each other until this match. But if you see this hug, this photo, you could think it was two brothers or a father and son or childhood friends. But it’s not. The man kissing his pregnant wife’s belly had never seen his club win the championship. The wife, despite supporting a different club, wore her husband’s favorite team’s jersey to accompany him on this special moment. Just like the girl hugging her new boyfriend, also a passionate fan.

André Coelho