- Vasco da Gama secured an important victory over Boca Juniors in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana semi-final first leg, with Léo Jardim keeping another clean sheet.
- The Rio de Janeiro side's goalkeeper, who already knows what it takes to win the CONMEBOL Libertadores after lifting the trophy with Grêmio in 2017, is now one step away from the decisive match in the competition he is determined to win: the 'Great Conquest'.
The 'Cruzmaltino's' successful continental campaign can be explained by several factors. Defensive solidity and the assurance provided by Brazilian goalkeeper Léo Jardim are undoubtedly among the main reasons why Portuguese manager Pedro Emanuel's side are now just one step away from the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Final.
The statistics back up the experienced 31-year-old goalkeeper. His outstanding performances in every knockout tie of this year's competition are also reflected in the numbers. At La Bombonera, in the first leg of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana semi-finals, he recorded his third clean sheet in the tournament — taking his tally to seven in 11 appearances — and played a vital role in the 1-0 victory that gives Vasco an advantage ahead of next week's second leg.
Leonardo César Jardim knew from the age of seven that he wanted to become a goalkeeper. Like many children of his generation, he was inspired by Marcos — the goalkeeper who helped Brazil win their fifth World Cup in South Korea and Japan in 2002 — and has always named him as his childhood idol.
More than 24 years later, Jardim is writing his own story on the international stage as one of the heroes of a Vasco da Gama side dreaming of ending a 26-season wait for a South American title.
The 'Cruzmaltino' experienced mixed fortunes in the group stage. From the Round of 16 play-offs onwards, with their goalkeeper emerging as an undisputed standout, the Rio de Janeiro side grew in confidence, improved their approach to each tie and maintained their commitment to taking the initiative.
Jardim kept a clean sheet in the second leg of the play-offs against Independiente Medellín at São Januário, repeated the feat in the first leg against Olimpia in the Round of 16, and shut out Independiente Santa Fe over both legs of their quarter-final tie. To further underline his importance, the goalkeeper, who has already made more than 200 appearances for Vasco, produced another outstanding display in the semi-final first leg against Boca Juniors — winners of the 2004 and 2005 editions — in Argentina, as the Brazilian side came away with the victory.
“I'm pleased to be able to help the team in my role, but what matters most is always the team's performance. We approach matches intelligently and continue to improve day by day,” said the Ribeirão Preto-born goalkeeper after Vasco secured their place in the semi-finals.
A product of Grêmio's academy, Jardim was part of the 'Tricolor' squad that won the 2017 CONMEBOL Libertadores, although he did not feature in the competition. He subsequently had spells in the Portuguese and French leagues before joining Vasco da Gama and giving his career a new direction.
His arrival in Rio de Janeiro was not just a turning point in his playing career. It also offered him the chance to enjoy a consistent run of games and establish himself as a leading figure at a club with a strong continental pedigree. Three seasons were enough for him to win over the Vasco faithful, become an important part of Portuguese manager Pedro Emanuel's system and set his sights on a goal that appears increasingly within reach: winning the CONMEBOL Sudamericana with Vasco.
