- The goalkeeper once again proved decisive in a penalty shoot-out, sending Verdão through to another Final on their quest for the 'Eternal Glory'.
- Just as he had done in the previous round, the shot-stopper shone in a tense shoot-out as Palmeiras knocked Fluminense out in the CONMEBOL Libertadores semi-finals.
Carlos Miguel was the hero once again. Abel Ferreira's first-choice goalkeeper rose to the occasion yet again — and not simply because of his 2.04-metre frame — to secure a place in the showpiece match of the continent's most prestigious club competition. The Final will be played in Montevideo on 28 November, against either Flamengo or Estudiantes de La Plata.
In the quarter-finals against LDU Quito, the Rio das Ostras-born goalkeeper made Palmeiras history by becoming the second goalkeeper in the São Paulo club's history to save at least two penalties in a single CONMEBOL Libertadores shoot-out, denying Lucas Rodríguez and Luis Segovia. The first was Marcos, Brazil's 2002 World Cup winner and a continental champion with Palmeiras in 1999. He had saved two penalties against Peñarol in 2000 and three against Cruzeiro in 2001 and Sport Recife in 2009.
There was another chapter still to be written. This time, Carlos Miguel made history in front of his own supporters at the Nubank Parque. Hércules' goal for Fluminense in the 82nd minute made it 2-2 on aggregate, sending the tie to a penalty shoot-out.
The goalkeeper took over from Weverton — a winner of the 2020 and 2021 editions — in October 2025 and has not relinquished his place in the starting line-up since. He dived to his left to save Nonato's effort, Fluminense's fourth penalty of the shoot-out, paving the way for Marlon Freitas to seal a 5-3 victory for the São Paulo side.
Palmeiras will feature in another CONMEBOL Libertadores Final, their fourth appearance in the showpiece in the last seven editions. Much of their journey to the decisive match can be attributed to the goalkeeper's crucial contribution. He returned from Nottingham Forest after a brief spell in the Premier League in search of regular football, and has found it at one of the continent's leading clubs.
Verdão will contest consecutive CONMEBOL Libertadores Finals in 2025 and 2026 for the third time in their history. They previously reached back-to-back finals in 2020 and 2021, as well as in 1999 and 2000.
In 1999, after a 2-2 aggregate draw, Palmeiras claimed their first major continental title by beating Deportivo Cali on penalties. A year later, they had the chance to retain the trophy but lost on penalties to specialists in such situations, Boca Juniors, who won the shoot-out 4-2 following a 2-2 draw in normal time.
The reigning runners-up have also moved into second place for the most penalty shoot-out wins in CONMEBOL Libertadores history, having won 10 of their 14 shoot-outs. Only 'Xeneize' are ahead, with 11 wins from 17.
Palmeiras know they have a player in their ranks whose value grows even greater when everything is on the line. Carlos Miguel was the hero once again.
