Cruzeiro will face Flamengo on Sunday at Mineirão stadium, marking the first time striker Gabigol plays against his former club since moving to Cruzeiro late last year. The match, part of the Campeonato Brasileiro season, features a reunion with emotional weight for many fans.
Gabigol spent six seasons at Flamengo, becoming a prominent figure in the club's history with multiple titles and goals. His departure left a void, but Pedro emerged as the primary forward, inheriting the number 9 shirt.
Pedro has established himself as a prolific scorer for Flamengo. From the 2022 Libertadores title through the end of last year, Pedro contributed to 77 goals (65 goals, 12 assists), compared to Gabigol's 33 contributions (28 goals, five assists) in the same timeframe.
In his sixth year with the team, Pedro is nearing Gabigol's overall career numbers for Flamengo. Gabigol recorded 161 goals in 308 games, while Pedro has 141 goals in 270 appearances. Given Flamengo's remaining schedule this year, Pedro has an opportunity to surpass Gabigol's total goal count for the club.
One area where Gabigol holds a significant lead is goals scored in cup finals. Gabigol netted 16 goals in 18 final appearances for Flamengo, while Pedro has scored seven in 14 finals.
For the match, Flamengo expects to have several players back who were rested in a midweek cup game. Pedro, Arrascaeta, Agustín Rossi, and De La Cruz are set to return to the lineup. However, the team will be without Matías Viña and Gonzalo Plata due to injury.
Pedro expressed anticipation for the game. "I hope we can play a good game," he said in a video released by Flamengo. "We had a good result mid-week, in the last Brasileiro game we also played a great game, and I hope we can continue the result and also the performance we have been doing, controlling the games. Knowing it will be very difficult, Cruzeiro has a great team, in their home as well. But we, as always, will go in to win."
The return of Gabigol brings a sentimental element, particularly for fans who named children in his honor following his success. One such fan is Gênesis Braga, who named his son Gabriel Henrique Arrascaeta after Gabigol, Bruno Henrique, and Arrascaeta.
Braga acknowledged the conflicting emotions of seeing an idol on the opposing side. "Honestly, I wasn't expecting this moment yet," Braga said. "He is the biggest idol of our generation, we have enormous affection for him, despite the departure and everything that happened... It will be strange."
