Brazilian teams showed great promise earlier in the Fifa Club World Cup. Although they ultimately fell short, they energised fans during what is typically a dull two-month period between June and July.
The representatives from the Brazilian Serie A for the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup made a strong impression in their initial matches against European clubs in June. Palmeiras kicked things off with a draw against FC Porto, though it later became clear that this result was not as favourable as it first appeared. Botafogo then raised the stakes by pulling off a huge upset, defeating Paris Saint-Germain.
Additionally, Flamengo staged a comeback against Chelsea after trailing 0-1, delivering a commanding performance in the second half that excited supporters on social media.
This sparked interest in the Brazilian league, as their teams were making waves in the Club World Cup. As we near the halfway point of the 2025 Brasileirao, here’s a summary of how the season has unfolded so far.
Cruzeiro – 1st
Current league leaders Cruzeiro are enjoying a remarkable run. Head coach Leonardo Jardim, who previously led Monaco to the Ligue 1 title and the Uefa Champions League semi-finals in 2017, while also introducing Kylian Mbappe to the world of football, has turned the team around, guiding them to an impressive 11-game unbeaten streak.
They gained significant attention during the Club World Cup by defeating Flamengo, Botafogo, Palmeiras, and most recently, Fluminense, all of whom were performing well and beating European teams.
Former Juventus striker Kaio Jorge and “streets won’t forget” fan-favourite Matheus Pereira have been standout players for Cruzeiro. Kaio has scored an impressive 12 goals in just 13 games, while Pereira leads the league in assists with five. The squad also features notable players such as Gabigol and Yannick Bolasie.
Flamengo – 2nd
Flamengo currently sit second in the league table, but with a game in hand, allowing them to move ahead of Cruzeiro with a win. Filipe Luis’ squad is arguably the most well-rounded in the division and recently strengthened their lineup by adding former Atletico Madrid duo Saul Niguez and Samuel Lino, just after signing Jorginho ahead of the Club World Cup. They also successfully brought Emerson Royal from AC Milan, following the sale of Wesley to Roma.
Although Giorgian de Arrascaeta did not meet expectations during the Club World Cup, he has been, without a doubt, the standout player in the 2025 Brasileirao so far. The Uruguayan international has already contributed nine goals and five assists in just 13 games, surpassing his goal involvement from any other league season except for 2020 (17), 2019 (27), and 2016 (18).
Palmeiras – 3rd
Palmeiras had an easier path than most Brazilian teams before facing Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup, where they lost in a rematch of the 2022 Intercontinental Cup final. Nevertheless, they remain solid and competitive in the league, sitting in third place.
Under the guidance of Abel Ferreira, Palmeiras have won two of the last three league titles and look to be a strong contender for the title once again this year.
Red Bull Bragantino – 4th
Red Bull acquired Bragantino ahead of the 2019 Serie B season, and the project has since seen considerable success. Despite a recent setback with two consecutive losses, they are off to a strong start in the 2025 Serie A after narrowly avoiding relegation last year.
Attacking midfielder Jhon Jhon has been their standout player and one of the top performers in the league overall. The 22-year-old ranks second in expected assists, with 3.7 Expected Assists, and appears to be having a breakout season. If he maintains this level of performance through the end of the year, many European teams will likely target him in the winter transfer window.
Botafogo – 5th
Current Serie A and Libertadores champions Botafogo have faced challenges in 2025 compared to their remarkable 2024 season. This decline was anticipated following the departures of head coach Artur Jorge to Al-Rayyan, along with standout players Thiago Almada and Luiz Henrique.
Recently, they sold Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha to Nottingham Forest, and left-back Cuiabano is also expected to leave in the near future. However, owner John Textor has already invested in new players and will likely continue to strengthen the squad if necessary.
Bahia – 6th
Acquired by the City Football Group in May 2023, Bahia experienced their best-ever starts to a Serie A season in both 2024 and 2025. They also qualified for the Copa Libertadores this year for the first time since 1989, although they were unable to advance past the group stage.
The head coach is the legendary former goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni, renowned for scoring 131 goals during his career.
Mirassol – 7th
One of the biggest surprises in the Brasileirao is Mirassol, a club that was in the third tier as recently as 2022. In 2025, they have taken Serie A by storm and currently sit in seventh place in the league. Despite not having a large fanbase or a long history, Mirassol is a well-run club, and this is their first-ever season in the top flight.
Fluminense – 8th
Fluminense had the best Club World Cup campaign by a Brazilian team, reaching the semi-finals before being knocked out by Chelsea. However, since returning from the tournament, they have lost three consecutive matches in the Brasileirao, facing the league’s top three teams: Cruzeiro, Flamengo, and Palmeiras.
Flu surprised everyone by firing head coach Mano Menezes after their loss on Matchday 1, but they have shown renewed energy under Renato Portaluppi. As demonstrated between June and July, Thiago Silva continues to perform well at the age of 40. However, Jhon Arias’ departure to Wolves could pose challenges for Fluminense in the second half of the season.
Atletico Mineiro – 9th
Atletico Mineiro made significant investments ahead of the new season, but so far, they have not met expectations. Currently, they sit in ninth place in the league and achieved only a narrow victory in the Sudamericana playoffs against the Colombian team Bucaramanga, following a defeat in the second leg at home.
Despite being 39 years old, Hulk remains awesome; however, 2025 has likely been his worst season since returning to Brazil in 2021. He has scored 15 goals in 30 appearances across all competitions, but it’s noteworthy that 10 of those goals came from set pieces: five were penalties, four were free kicks, and one was an Olimpico, scored directly from a corner.
International – 10th
In 2024, Internacional emerged as one of the standout teams in the Brasileirão, enjoying an impressive unbeaten streak of 16 games – their second-longest ever in the top flight. However, their performance declined sharply in 2025. Recently, though, they have managed to turn things around and are currently in the midst of a three-match winning streak, looking much stronger than before.
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Corinthians – 11th
Corinthians’ attacking talent hasn’t been sufficient lately, as they’ve struggled despite featuring players like Memphis Depay, Rodrigo Garro, and André Carrillo. Throughout most of the 2024 season, they found themselves near the relegation zone. However, they concluded the year on a positive note, achieving the second-best record over the final 14 matchdays with 11 wins, one draw, and two losses.
This year, they hired former Brazil national team head coach Dorival Júnior, but they’ve yet to find their rhythm. The midfield is fragile, the defence is notably weak, and the attack has suffered from the absence of Yuri Alberto. Nonetheless, the squad is filled with talented players, which should ideally enable them to compete for a spot in the Libertadores.
Sao Paulo – 12th
Sao Paulo are having a disappointing campaign in 2025, but they have shown signs of improvement since appointing Hernan Crespo during the Club World Cup break for his second stint as manager. Crespo previously led the team in 2021, guiding them to victory in the Paulista regional tournament.
Currently, the Tricolor have more losses (five) than wins (four) in the league, but they have achieved back-to-back victories for the first time in nearly a year. The squad is filled with talent, although key players Lucas Moura and Oscar are currently sidelined due to injuries. Forward Luciano, who has previously played in Europe for Leganes and Panathinaikos, has been instrumental, contributing four goals and two assists in his last five matches in the Brasileirao.
Ceara – 13th
Recently promoted Ceara began the 2025 Brasileirao season strongly, accumulating 15 points in their first nine matches. However, their form has sharply declined since then, resulting in five losses out of their last six games.
Gremio – 14th
Another big club is experiencing a disappointing campaign in 2025. The 2023 runners-up, led by Luis Suarez, currently sit in 14th place in the standings.
Danish striker Martin Braithwaite (yes, that one) is performing well, but his contributions haven’t been enough to make up for the team’s other shortcomings. Gremio has recently signed Carlos Vinicius, who has previously played for Fulham, Tottenham, and Benfica, to strengthen the squad. In addition, Gremio boast the most diverse roster in terms of nationalities, featuring 12 foreign players.
Vitoria – 15th
Vitoria looked set to go straight back to the Serie B in 2024, but had a strong second half of the season to not only maintain their top-flight status but also earn a spot in the 2025 Sudamericana.
Things haven’t quite been the same this year, though: 15th place in the league, a Sudamericana group stage exit, and a coaching change during the Club World Cup break.
Vasco – 16th
Vasco have been struggling both on and off the pitch. A combination of administrative issues, debt, a weak squad, and poor performance has resulted in a 16th-placed finish in the Brasileirao.
Philippe Coutinho is their standout player, but he has been plagued by injuries since his return to the team. His inability to maintain fitness has had a more negative impact on Vasco than the positive contributions he makes when he is healthy.
Santos – 17th
Santos experienced their first-ever relegation in 2023 but made a strong comeback by winning the Serie B in 2024 and returning to Serie A in 2025. The year began with former Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha in charge; however, the team struggled majorly in the regional tournament and decided to part ways with him.
Like Coutinho, Neymar has spent a large portion of his time sidelined by injury. As of July, he has finally managed to string together three consecutive games, playing the full 90 minutes each time. While he hasn’t performed poorly when on the field, he has also not met the expectations set since returning to his boyhood club. The main headlines involving him have revolved around disputes with fans rather than his contributions on the pitch.
Juventude – 18th
Known for their city’s extremely cold weather in the winter, Juventude haven’t been able to tap into their “can they do it on a cold, rainy night in Caxias do Sul” mode. They sit 18th in the table and look set for relegation.
For what it’s worth, former PSG and West Ham attacking midfielder Nenê is 44 years old and still going strong.
Fortaleza – 19th
Fortaleza have been one of Brazil’s top teams over the past four years, achieving their best-ever finish in a Serie A season by securing fourth in 2024.
However, everything fell apart in 2025, leading the board to decide to part ways with head coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda, who was the second-longest tenured manager in the country at the time of his dismissal.
David Luiz, now 38, joined the club at the beginning of the year but has not made the expected impact.
Sport – 20th
Sport made some intriguing signings ahead of the 2025 Brasileirao bringing in former Portuguese internationals Sergio Oliveira and Goncalo Paciencia.
However, none of this has had a positive impact, as they currently sit at the bottom of the table without a single win in the league. In fact, they are experiencing the worst league campaign after 14 matches in modern history, and relegation seems almost inevitable.