“They were the longest minutes of my life,” recalls Gregor, the former Botafogo player, in an unprecedented report on the Libertadores final.

I think building the idea of ​​being champion was game by game. As we passed the stage, confidence increased. But the week of the final, it didn’t look like we were going to contest the decision. The feeling is unique, but we were very focused on the upcoming matches.

We played against Palmeiras at Allianz Parque, a key game of the year, and then we traveled to Argentina for the final and then we actually had a Brazilian league decision against Internacional. So every match was a decision. We didn’t have much time to think ‘Hey, let’s play the Libertadores final’.

On the eve of the final against Atletico MG, we explored the stadium. I took a moment to say my prayers, and a movie played in my head. I remembered everything I had been through in my career to get there. I imagined the next day, the stadium was full, and I imagined the tackles and movements…

On game day, I woke up, had a coffee, and went to physical therapy to have a relaxing chat with the boys. We went to the field, and I did my pre-game ritual – moving, stretching and energizing – before going in to warm up. I asked for protection for myself and my teammates and took to the field, as is the case for all 2024 matches.

When I get into this field, I try to be as professional as possible. There are emotions that we sometimes try to control, but I’m always focused on doing the job and helping my teammates. In the final match, it was no different.

The expulsion happens very quickly. It’s a ball they kick, Barboza hits, and it comes in handy. When I move to the second ball, it slips, and Almada is already trying to destabilize Fausto Vera, who falls. I went to look at the ball, but I was delayed by the slip and ended up taking the ball.

When I saw that I had done it correctly, I felt very anxious. The referee was close and only gave a yellow card, but when he saw the blood on Fausto’s head, he knew the color of the card would change. The referee took a long time to resume the match, and listened to the microphone. I thought: “Wow, fucked!”

In that match, red had a different weight, because there were a lot of things. It was the most important match in the club’s history, and I knew that. It was one of the hardest days of my life. But it made me stronger. After that moment, I grew as a person and saw how much I could endure.

At the time, I was sad, because I wanted to share in that moment. When I received the red card, I heard Marlon Freitas talking to the boys. Leaving the pitch, Alex Telles spoke to me, and Marsal gave me a hug that was half comforting and half saying: ‘What the hell have I done?’

Because of the regulations, she took steroids after the expulsion. I spent about 20 minutes sobbing while the dope guy tried to calm me down. After a while, I sat down and started watching the match on TV there. There was complete faith and prayer for my companions. Only CONMEBOL representatives were able to enter the room. But the Botafogo security guard went there to reassure me and say that my family who went to the stadium were fine.

I knew the first goal had come because of the crowd noise, but I was lost without knowing who it was. When the TV showed Luiz Henrique’s move, I went crazy: I kicked the water bottles, threw the chair on the floor…

It was the longest and most stressful 75 minutes of my life, because there was nothing to do. Because I was expelled, the responsibility fell on me. Football has that. If you are willing to fight for big dreams, you are also prone to making big mistakes.

When they released me from the doping room, I headed to the tunnel entrance that gave access to the stadium. I started to live the atmosphere of that final match. I saw Vargas’s missed shots and Junior Santos’ goal.

I was only relieved when the referee blew the final whistle. I entered the stadium after that, but I couldn’t celebrate, because I was in shock, absorbing what had happened. The players came to hug me and I immediately broke down and started crying.

The feeling was one of joy. The Libertadores title crowned this feat. After the game, my teammates were teasing me. To this day they talk about expulsion. I have already bought a barbecue for everyone. The debt has become huge (laughs).

After the title, we were off into the wilderness. The night of the 30th was crazy partying in Argentina. The next day, we returned to Rio and went to the Electric Trio. Seeing the street full of Botafoguenses will forever be marked in my history. I just wanted to enjoy that moment.

After the ceremony, the match against Internacional in the Brazilian League came. There we switched to automatic mode, and it was a very difficult match. If I’m not mistaken, we had two shots on goal and Gateto was the best one on the pitch. I wasn’t tired because I didn’t play in the final (laughs), but I was tired because of the electric trio.

Then we finish the year against Sao Paulo, and look how things are going, I almost didn’t play. In the match against Atletico, at Arena da Baixada, I fell hard and injured my back. There were games that I had to maneuver to play, and in this game against Sao Paulo, I played the first half and asked to leave at half-time. I was in severe pain. Dr. Dutra gave me an injection to continue my career and in the end I stole the ball and scored the title goal.

During the celebration, I go to the sea. I even cry because I just know what I went through that week. I will experience the title goal again, but without the sending off. You don’t need to pass these things on (laughs).