Meet Botafogo: The Unstoppable Underdog — Legends, Chaos, American Dreamers

Legends, collapse, American chaos, and a Copa Libertadores title. Why it’s time to trust in Botafogo.

When most Americans are told about Brazilian football, the clichés are bound to spring to mind—Pelé’s Santos, Neymar’s stepovers, the sea of red at Flamengo. But if you desire the real rollercoaster? The club where glory and heartbreak walk hand-in-hand?

You’re looking for Botafogo.

They're Brazil’s original football romantics. The club of Garrincha. Of rebellion. Of chaos. Of a billionaire from Florida who somehow made fans in Rio believe again. This team shouldn’t exist. And yet tomorrow, they play Palmeiras in a clash that will decide who carries the Brazilian torch further into the tournament.

A Club of Legends... and Ghosts

Botafogo once was football royalty. Not the “we won the most” kind, but the “we made the game poetic” kind.

Garrincha was not merely a dribbler—he was a spectacle. A player with bent legs who embarrassed defenders and delighted millions.

Nilton Santos was a master tactician at left-back long before people even thought about fullbacks.

Jairzinho scored in every match of the 1970 World Cup. He was pure fire.

In the ‘50s and the ‘60s, the Brazilian national team was Botafogo. They were artists with a badge.

Then it all fell apart.

The Fall: Relegation, Debt, and a Lost Stadium

Those decades ahead would be merciless. Relegations. Litigations. No funds. And, most gut-wrenching of all, the selling by Botafogo of their legendary central-Rio home, the Estádio de General Severiano, just to make ends meet. Eventually they did partially regain it.

But it still sits like a busted museum—a hollow remnant of what it once was. A real monument to what they lost.

They turned into a dark legend of Brazilian football. But the supporters? They never departed.

Enter John Textor: Billionaire, Madman, Maybe Savior

In 2022, John Textor, an American businessman who also owns Lyon and used to co-own Crystal Palace, bought a majority stake in Botafogo.

Nobody in Brazil took it too seriously at first. Another foreigner with no clue what they were about? Nah.

But then he showed up. He moved to Rio. He started speaking in Portuguese. He went on camera saying he didn’t fall in love with Brazilian football—he fell in love with Brazilians.

And it worked.

“Eu não me apaixonei pelo futebol brasileiro. Eu me apaixonei pelos brasileiros.”

– John Textor— Botafogo FR (@Botafogo) March 14, 2022

Translation: “I didn’t fall in love with Brazilian football. I fell in love with Brazilians.”

He invested money in scouting, infrastructure, analytics, and coaching. He publicly criticized refereeing and VAR inconsistencies.. He did all that from the bottom and is now under investigation and a fan hero all at once. That’s real Botafogo energy.

Yes, there are key red flags:

• Lyon was just relegated under his leadership—for the first time in 30 years.
• He’s being forced to sell his Crystal Palace shares because of UEFA’s multi-club rules.
• His business decisions haven’t always looked great on paper.

But in Brazil? He’s the man that stands up for the people. It’s strange. It’s chaotic. It’s sublime.

The Fall (Once More)… and Then the Ascent

In 2023, Botafogo had the league well and truly sewn up. Thirteen points ahead at the halfway stage. They imploded. Hard. As in, “documentary-style meltdown” hard.

Coaches got fired midseason. Players broke down. Fans watched a title slip away week by week.

And then 2024 arrived.

With a new manager, Artur Jorge, and a mix of gritty veterans and wildcards, Botafogo didn’t just bounce back.

They lifted the Copa Libertadores. For the first time ever.

As if that wasn't enough, they also won the league for the third time in their history. Ending a 29 year drought.

It was all Botafogo is—tense, dramatic, unforgettable. Luiz Henrique and Junior Santos were the heroes in the final, securing the win against Atlético Mineiro.

It was the club's first international honor of that magnitude—and destiny, apparently, had finally paid her dues.

World Stage at the Club World Cup

Now they're playing center stage alongside the world’s biggest teams at the Club World Cup. And not just participating—they’re playing like they belong.

For a team that was circling the drain just a few years ago, this is wild.

The Coaching Curse (or Blessing?)

Since Textor arrived, the coaching turnover has been crazy.

• Luís Castro left midseason in 2023 to chase the bag in Saudi Arabia.
• Bruno Lage bombed.
• Lúcio Flávio and Joel Carli tried to hold the line.
• Then came Artur Jorge, who brought them Libertadores success—and then resigned in January 2025.

Now it’s led by Renato Paiva, and would you know it, they’re still thriving and dropping insane quotes after beating the current European Champions.

Somehow, regardless of who departs, another gifted coach emerges. It’s almost like the club is too unstable to fail right now.

Players You Should Know

• Igor Jesus – The engine in midfield. Rumored move to Nottingham Forest is heating up.
• Barboza – Is he sane? Probably not. But he’s a rock at the back.
• Artur – Underrated everywhere except Rio. A dynamic winger who's always dangerous.

The roster isn’t filled with global superstars—and that’s the point. This isn’t a superteam. This is a squad that earns every moment of joy.

Why You Should Support Botafogo

If you're into easy victories and safe bets, go support City or Bayern.

But if you love:

• Underdogs with a touch of delusion
• Clubs that have endured
• Redemption arcs with no guarantees
• Fans that believe like it's religion
• A dash of chaos, American drama, and Brazilian poetry

Then Botafogo is your club.

They lost everything—cash, players, pride, even their precious stadium. Still, here they are. Libertadores winners. Club World Cup contenders. Facing Palmeiras tomorrow with the entire nation watching.

This isn’t just a team.

This is a story. And it’s far from over.