Botafogo team guide: History, trophies won and notable former players of 2025 FIFA Club World Cup club

Botafogo will become the eleventh different Brazilian side to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup when they take to the stage this summer after winning the Copa Libertadores in 2024.

It was the first time the club had won the trophy in their history, but they have been champions of Brazil on three occasions.

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Botafogo team guide

Location

Rio de Janeiro is home to four massive Brazilian clubs - Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo and Vasco.

Botafogo and their Estádio Olimpico Nilton Santos is located in the Engenho de Dentro neighbourhood. 

Origin

Born from the union between Club de Regatas Botafogo and Botafogo Football Club, Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas was officially founded in 1942. 

Previously, the two entities had remained separate, with Club de Regatas Botafogo beginning as a rowing club before creating a football club. 

The colours were black and white like those of Juventus, the team of Itamar Tavares, one of the club's founders.

Nicknames

• Fogo (Fire)
• Estrela Solitaria (The Lone Star)
• O Glorioso (The Glorious One)
• Alvinegro Carioca (Rio's Black and White)
• O Mais Tradicional (The Most Traditional)
• Campeao da América (Champion of America)
• Fogão (Big Fire)) ​​

Trophies won

Although Botafogo are one of Brazil’s most famous clubs, they have only been Brazilian champions on three occasions, with the last coming in 2024 – their first for nearly two decades. 

They followed that up with their first-ever Copa Libertadores victory last year.

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (3)
• ​Copa Libertadores: (1)​​

Notable former players

Botafogo’s biggest icons come from Brazil’s golden era of the 1950s and 1960s, and they don’t come any bigger than Garrincha. The Brazilian legend spent the whole of his career with the club. 

• Nilton Santos (1948-1964) 
• Garrincha (1953-1085)
• Quarentinha (1954-1955 and 1956-1964) 
• Didi (1956-1959, 1960-1962 and 1964-1965) 
• Jairzinho (1960-1974 and 1981-1982) 
• Jerfferson (2009-2018) ​​

Top scorer (Brazilian Serie A 2024) - Jefferson Savarino (14 goals)

The tricky winger has played in the US as well as his native Venezuela and enjoyed a rich run of goal-scoring form for Botafogo in 2024. 

Manager -  Renato Paiva (POR) 

The Portuguese is a product of Benfica's youth academy coaches but has spent the majority of his career managing across South America and Mexico. 

In February, he returned to Brazil, having previously bossed Bahia to takeover at Botafogo, and will lead their FIFA World Club Cup bid this summer.

How Botafogo qualified for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

Botafogo are one of six CONMEBOL teams competing in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and qualify as the winner of the 2024 Copa Libertadores. 

Botafogo group, schedule at 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

Botafogo have been drawn into Group B with PSG, Atletico Madrid and Seattle Sounders. 

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