- A Flamengo academy graduate, he moved to Europe in January 2019, missing the club's triumphs in 2019, 2022 and 2025, before returning this year. He is already the team's third-highest scorer in this edition.
- The midfielder, who scored in the 2017 CONMEBOL Sudamericana Final at the Maracanã, returns to the same stadium for the decisive leg of the first CONMEBOL Libertadores Semi-final of his career.
On 13 December 2017, in the 29th minute of the first half, a 20-year-old Lucas Paquetá turned in a low cross from Réver at the Maracanã to open the scoring in the second leg of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Final. Independiente equalised from the penalty spot ten minutes later and claimed the title with a 3-2 aggregate victory, but that night marked the midfielder's only continental Final with Flamengo before his move to Europe. Almost nine years later, Paquetá returns to an occasion of similar magnitude at the same stadium: this Thursday, against Estudiantes, he will contest the decisive leg of the first CONMEBOL Libertadores Semi-final of his career.
He had joined Flamengo's youth academy as a boy from Paquetá, the island in Guanabara Bay that gave him his nickname, and made his first-team debut in 2016. In January 2019, he moved to AC Milan. "I'm leaving with that little ache of having to leave my home," he said in his final press conference before departing. Then he added: "But with the certainty that one day I'll come back." After Milan came spells at Lyon and West Ham, while Flamengo were building their golden era in the CONMEBOL Libertadores, winning the titles in 2019, 2022 and 2025.
His return came in January 2026, seven years after his departure, in the most expensive transfer in Brazilian football history. "It's an enormous joy to be back. We prayed so much for this moment. I dreamed so much about this moment. Coming home once again. Now all I want is to enjoy the happiness of finally being home, to be happy, to bring joy to the fans and to give my very best," he said shortly after arriving in Rio de Janeiro.
His first goal in the competition did not take long to arrive. On 16 April, at the Maracanã, he opened the scoring in a 4-1 victory over Independiente Medellín in the 15th minute, assisted by Ayrton Lucas. It was his first goal in the tournament, something he had never managed during his initial spell at the club. "It was something I had been hoping for, so I was happy to score and contribute to the victory," he said that night. His second came from the penalty spot in second-half stoppage time of the 3-0 win over Cusco, also in Rio. His third carried particular significance. Having recently recovered from a left hamstring injury sustained during the World Cup, he came off the bench at the Mineirão in the first leg of the Round of 16 against Cruzeiro and scored the equaliser to make it 1-1 in the 66th minute. It was at that same stadium that he had played his final CONMEBOL Libertadores match before moving to Europe: he started the second leg of the 2018 Round of 16, also against Cruzeiro, in a 1-0 victory that was not enough for Flamengo to overturn their 2-0 first-leg defeat.
According to Opta, Paquetá has made nine appearances in this edition, starting four matches and playing 426 minutes. His three goals make him Flamengo's third-highest scorer, behind Bruno Henrique (5) and Giorgian De Arrascaeta (4). He also ranks joint-second in duels won (41, level with Ayrton Lucas) and tackles (16, level with Emerson Royal). He has come off the bench five times, highlighting the range of options available to Leonardo Jardim within the defending champions' squad.
In the goalless first leg in La Plata, he started, played 85 minutes and recorded 69 touches. "It was a difficult match," he admitted afterwards, explaining: "The most important thing was not to concede and to take the tie back home to decide it there." On Sunday, in Salvador, he scored one of the goals in a 3-0 victory over Bahia in the Brasileirão. Flamengo, who have recorded seven wins and four draws in this edition of the CONMEBOL Libertadores, will be without Danilo and De Arrascaeta, who is still recovering from a fracture to his left wrist. At home, the team have been dominant throughout this campaign: they have enjoyed more possession and attempted more shots than their opponents in all five matches at the Maracanã, averaging 59% possession and 19.6 attempts per game. Jardim has already outlined his approach: "The second part of this tie is at home, at the Maracanã, with our extra strength, which is our fans."
After scoring his first goal in April, Paquetá offered a reflection that captures what returning home means to him: "It's good to see up close everything they do to achieve their goals. This year, I hope we can achieve them once again."
