A draw was enough to make history
No coração do futebol brasileiro, Palmeiras escreveu mais um capítulo de sua longa saga ao conquistar o 12º título do Brasileirão com um empate calculado contra o Cruzeiro. A noite pertenceu sobretudo a Endrick, um jovem de 17 anos cujo gol evocou o nome de Ronaldo e lembrou ao mundo que o talento não respeita idade. Sob o comando de Abel Ferreira, o clube paulista consolida uma era de domínio que transcende temporadas e reafirma sua posição como força central do futebol nacional.
- Com o título ao alcance, Palmeiras entrou em campo precisando apenas de um empate — e a tensão de jogar com cautela pesou sobre cada minuto.
- Endrick, 17 anos, rompeu o equilíbrio com um gol de rebote no primeiro tempo, tornando-se o primeiro jogador sub-18 a marcar mais de 10 gols em uma única edição do Brasileirão desde Ronaldo em 1993.
- O Cruzeiro reagiu e empatou por Nikão, transformando a partida em um duelo nervoso onde cada ataque ameaçava desfazer o sonho alviverde.
- O goleiro Weverton foi decisivo com seis defesas, segurando o resultado e garantindo que o empate fosse suficiente para coroar o campeão.
- O apito final confirmou o bicampeonato consecutivo sob Abel Ferreira, consolidando Palmeiras como a equipe mais dominante do futebol brasileiro na era recente.
Na noite de quarta-feira, o Palmeiras precisava apenas de um empate para ser campeão. Foi exatamente o que obteve: 1 a 1 contra o Cruzeiro na última rodada do Brasileirão, resultado que lhe garantiu o 12º título da competição. A partida foi tensa, mas o suficiente.
O protagonista da noite foi Endrick. Aos 17 anos, o atacante abriu o placar aos 20 minutos após um erro da defesa do Cruzeiro. Rafael Cabral fez a primeira defesa, mas o jovem estava no rebote e não desperdiçou. Era seu 11º gol no campeonato — marca que o colocou ao lado de Ronaldo, único jogador sub-18 a superar essa marca em uma única edição do Brasileirão, em 1993. Neymar, aos 17 anos em 2009, havia marcado 10. Endrick chegou a 17 gols com a camisa do Palmeiras no ano, em média com apenas 50 minutos por partida.
O Cruzeiro empatou na segunda etapa com Nikão, que finalizou rasteiro após jogada de escanteio. O gol reequilibrou o jogo e exigiu atenção do goleiro Weverton, que realizou seis defesas para preservar o resultado. O empate, no fim, foi suficiente.
O título confirma a hegemonia do Palmeiras sob o comando de Abel Ferreira, que conquista o bicampeonato consecutivo e reafirma o clube como a força mais consistente do futebol brasileiro nos últimos anos.
On Wednesday night, with the championship already within reach, Palmeiras needed only to avoid defeat. They got exactly that—a 1-1 draw against Cruzeiro in the 38th and final round of the Brasileirão—and with it, their 12th title in the competition's history. The match was tense and uneven, but the result was enough. Abel Ferreira's team has now won the Brazilian championship in 1960, 1967 (twice), 1969, 1972, 1973, 1993, 1994, 2016, 2018, 2022, and 2023.
Endrick, the 17-year-old forward, opened the scoring in the 20th minute of the first half. A mistake by Lucas Silva in Cruzeiro's defensive third gave the ball to the Palmeiras attacker, who tried a delicate chip on his first attempt. Goalkeeper Rafael Cabral made a fine save, but Endrick was there for the rebound and did not miss. It was his 11th goal in the league this season—a remarkable tally for a player so young, and one that placed him in rare historical company. He became the first player under 18 years old to score more than 10 goals in a single Brasileirão campaign since Ronaldo, who managed 12 goals at age 16 in 1993. Neymar, at 17 in 2009, had scored 10. Endrick's goal was his 17th in a Palmeiras shirt overall, his 14th of the calendar year, all while averaging just 50 minutes per match across 31 appearances.
Cruzeiro equalized through Nikão in the second half. A short corner kick found Matheus Pereira, who lifted the ball into the box. Nikão, the visiting midfielder, finished low and hard into the net. The goal made for a balanced contest—one that Cruzeiro's goalkeeper Weverton had to work hard to contain, making six saves including one from inside his own area. But balance was not enough. Palmeiras held on, and the draw secured the trophy.
The title represents a continuation of Palmeiras' recent dominance. Under Ferreira, the club has won back-to-back championships and established itself as the competition's most consistent force. The final round saw other results across Brazil: Bahia defeated Atlético-MG 4-1, Grêmio beat Fluminense 3-2, and Internacional topped Botafogo 3-1. But none of those matches mattered as much as the one in Minas Gerais, where a draw was enough to make history.
Notable Quotes
Endrick became the first player under 18 years old to score more than 10 goals in a single Brasileirão campaign since Ronaldo, who managed 12 goals at age 16 in 1993— Match records
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does a draw feel like a victory here? Doesn't that seem anticlimactic for a championship?
Not when you've already done the work. Palmeiras came into that match knowing they had a one-point lead. A draw was mathematically enough. The pressure wasn't to win—it was to not lose. That's a different kind of tension.
And Endrick—he's 17. How does a teenager carry that kind of moment?
He doesn't carry it alone. But yes, he scored the goal that gave them the cushion. Eleven league goals at his age puts him in a conversation with Ronaldo and Neymar. That's not normal. That's generational talent.
The source mentions Ronaldo scored 12 at 16, in 1993. Why does that tournament format matter?
Because the 1993 Brasileirão was structured differently—four groups of eight teams instead of the single round-robin they play now. Fewer matches, different competition. So Endrick's 11 in 31 games is actually more impressive in some ways than Ronaldo's 12 in 14.
What does this title mean for Palmeiras beyond the trophy itself?
It's their second straight. Under Abel Ferreira, they've become the team to beat. This isn't a one-off. It's a pattern. That's what builds dynasties.