WHEN BUENOS AIRES BECAME BRAZIL

Black-and-white-striped compatriots Botafogo and Atletico Mineiro descended on Argentina's capital for the Copa Libertadores final - and FFT joined the 70,000 travelling fans to witness the madness

- Martin Mazur, Ale Halle

By the time three police officers tried to arrest the giant rooster, Copa Libertadores chaos had already taken over Buenos Aires.

Wearing a black-and-white jersey, the man inside the two-metre rooster costume - one of Atletico Mineiro's official mascots, O Galo Doido had become the centre of attention, adjudged as being the ringleader of a particularly raucous gaggle of fans, 24 hours before kick-off in the Argentine capital. While supporters continued to jeer the three officers, the rooster finally strutted off with nothing more than a warning for unruly behaviour.

It's possibly the first time that someone disguised as a chicken has been able to roam freely in the streets of La Boca without being attacked by Boca Juniors supporters they have long insulted supporters of arch-rivals River Plate by labelling them 'gallinas'. But this is the eve of the Copa Libertadores final, and the showpiece thrives on its charmingly chaotic imperfections. By matchday, a 15-second clip of the almost-arrested man-sized rooster has quickly become a viral teaser for the final.

It's the first time, too, that Buenos Aires has become the epicentre of South American club football without having a local side directly involved in the final of La Libertadores, as it is known. No Boca. No River. No Independiente. Not even Velez nor Argentinos Juniors. No Argentine team whatsoever.

Since the infamous all-Argentina 2018 Libertadores Final between Boca and River, the winners of a competition that involves clubs from 10 different nations have come solely from Brazil. Flamengo lifted the trophy in 2019, followed by Palmeiras, twice, then Flamengo again and Fluminense in 2023.

This time, whatever the outcome, the winners will be different Brazilians.

POPCORN TIME