Cruzeiro are the Copa Libertadores Femenina champions. On Saturday night, 31 October, at the Estádio Rodrigo Paz Delgado — known as the Casa Blanca, in Quito — the club from Minas Gerais went 3-0 down to Corinthians, drew 4-4 in regulation and won the penalty shootout 5-4. It is the club's first title in the tournament, won on its first appearance in the competition.
Corinthians went 3-0 up
Gabi Zanotti scored in the 3rd and 41st minutes of the first half. Three minutes into the second half, Vic Albuquerque made it three, and the final looked set to deliver a seventh Corinthians title — a fourth in a row.
The comeback, in 40 minutes
Cruzeiro answered in sequence. Byanca Brasil pulled one back six minutes into the second half, and Vitória Calhau converted a penalty on 11. After Vic Albuquerque restored a two-goal cushion at 4-2 on 22, Ketlin headed in from a corner on 29. The equaliser came in stoppage time, also with a header, from Letícia Ferreira.
Decided from the spot
In the shootout, the 5-4 took shape after misses on both sides. Goalkeeper Camila saved Gi Fernandes's kick to end the series.
What the title changes
It was the first final between two Brazilian clubs in the competition's history. Corinthians, the tournament's most successful club, had six titles — 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025 — and were chasing a seventh. In the 16 previous meetings between the two, since the first on 7 September 2020, Corinthians had won 12, with two draws and two Cruzeiro wins.
With the trophy, Brazil reaches 15 titles in 18 editions of the Libertadores Femenina. Conmebol pays the champion US$2 million — about R$10 million — and the runner-up US$600,000; Santa Fe, who finished third, receive US$250,000. Cruzeiro secured a place in the 2027 Libertadores Femenina and in the 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup.
With information from CNN Brasil, Gazeta Esportiva and Sou Brasília.
