Filipe Luis has admitted that European elite clubs still hold the cards after his Flamengo side were knocked out of the FIFA Club World Cup by Bayern Munich on Sunday, Afrosport reports.
The Rio de Janeiro giants lost 4-2 in Miami Gardens, bringing an end to an impressive run in the intercontinental competition in the United States.
Brazilian clubs have shown their quality at the Club World Cup with all four representatives (Flamengo, Palmeiras, Fluminense and Botafogo) all making it through to the round of 16.
With Flamengo now going out, along with Botafogo, Luis believes the order is being restored with European teams progressing further in the competition.
“The pressure they put on you is immense,” Filipe Luis stated. “They come at you with eight, 10 players. They deserved to win.
“Our plan did work, and we were able to apply pressure and create goal-scoring opportunities, but they were better than us. We’re playing against the football elite. If Vinicius Jr. had not left for Real Madrid, we would have the best player in the world.
“They (South American players) want to be in the elite, and that’s what they are. Had we won today and the tournament, it would not change the reality – they’re high-quality teams. We have many Brazilian players in our teams, but they [the European teams] have the best ones. They have better players, that’s a fact.”
Even after a defeat, the best fans in the world. Thank you, Nação ❤️🖤🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/z16dkKDFQS
— Flamengo (@Flamengo_en) June 29, 2025
Palmeiras is the only Brazilian team to have reached the quarter-finals after they defeated Botafogo in extra time in Philadelphia, while Fluminense will be hoping to secure their place when they tackle Inter Milan in Charlotte on Monday.
