- The forward scored twice in Brazil’s win over India, with one goal set up by Flamengo teammate Pedro, carrying his fine club form onto the international stage.
- A key figure in Leonardo Jardim’s side, he will look to make another decisive contribution in the Semi-finals against Estudiantes on 15 and 22 October.
The understanding is already instinctive, even if the shirts and the setting have changed. Pedro provided the assist and Samuel Lino finished, once again, as a partnership forged at Flamengo reunited in Kolkata to help Brazil round off their friendly tour with an emphatic 4-0 win over India. The winger came on after the break and scored twice, with the pair accounting for three of the national team’s four goals. Ahead of the CONMEBOL Libertadores Semi-finals, their performance gave Flamengo supporters plenty to cheer about.
For Lino, the brace extended a run of form that Flamengo will hope to harness in the decisive stages of the CONMEBOL Libertadores. The Brazilian had already made his mark in the Quarter-finals, setting up Bruno Henrique’s opener in the 2-0 win over Independiente del Valle in Quito. Next up are Estudiantes: on 15 October in La Plata and on 22 October at the Maracanã, with a place in the Final at stake.
After the friendly, the forward celebrated both his own goals and Pedro’s. “It shows how well Flamengo are represented,” he told Ge TV. He also made it clear that keeping his place in the national squad will depend on maintaining his performances in Rio de Janeiro. Having often played in deeper positions during his time at Atlético Madrid, he has established himself as a left winger at Flamengo and is now competing with Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo for a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s line-up.
Under Leonardo Jardim, Lino has found the right conditions to expand his role. Starting on the left, with the freedom to drift inside and receive the ball between the lines, he has become one of Flamengo’s main attacking options. He has combined his ability to beat defenders out wide with greater involvement in both building and finishing moves.
“Lino has shown this season that he is versatile. He can perform more than one role,” Jardim explained after the victory over Remo in September. That afternoon, the No.16 secured a 1-0 win with a toe-poke finish following a pass from Giorgian De Arrascaeta. The coach also praised his adjustment to his defensive duties: his development has enabled him to provide different solutions in an attack featuring a range of options and players with varied attributes.
His progress earned recognition from the Brazilian Football Confederation, which named him Brasileirão Player of the Month for August after he scored three goals in four matches. “I’ve even put up another shelf in my room for all the awards I’m winning this year,” he joked as he received the honour. His Brazil call-up and brace against India provided further cause for celebration before his return to action with Flamengo.
Ahead of the tie against Estudiantes, his versatility has taken on added importance amid uncertainty over the availability of Giorgian de Arrascaeta, who is racing to recover from surgery on his left wrist. Asked about the possibility of playing as a playmaker, Lino made himself available: “I’m here to help Flamengo, whatever the position. I’m ready.” It would be a familiar role: Jardim has already deployed him there this season.
His current prominence contrasts with his first spell at the club. Lino joined Flamengo’s youth ranks on loan from São Bernardo and was part of the squad that won the 2018 Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior. He returned to his parent club midway through that year. The European chapter of his career was still to come: Gil Vicente, a loan spell at Valencia after signing for Atlético Madrid and, finally, his emergence as a key player for the Madrid club, where he was named Player of the Season for 2023/24.
When he returned to Rio in July 2025, he was a different player. The youngster who had once passed through the club was back to compete for a place in the first team and went on to help Flamengo win the CONMEBOL Libertadores. In 2026, his influence grew: he earned regular playing time, took on a wider range of roles, became a leader and maintained a level of performance that also opened the door to the Brazilian national team.