In Mexico City, where the Apertura season is beginning to sharpen, Juninho delivered the decisive touch for Pumas in a 2-1 win over Atlante. The former Flamengo forward scored both goals in the 12th round and moved into second place in the tournament’s scoring chart with eight.
The Brazilian said the victory carried particular importance after a run in which Pumas had played well without turning their performances into points. He was pleased with the goals, but stressed that the result for the team mattered most.
“I am very happy to score, especially because the team won,” Juninho said. “We had been putting in good performances but were not getting the result, and that was bothering us. It is a very positive personal spell, scoring in consecutive games, but it comes from hard work and the help of my team-mates. I hope I can maintain this level and that we keep getting good results.”
His recent return has been emphatic: four goals and an assist across his last three appearances. Juninho has now scored eight times in 15 matches this season, although Venezuela international Salomón Rondón remains the Apertura’s leading scorer on 12 goals.
Juninho arrived in Mexico after Pumas paid Flamengo €5 million, a fee worth roughly R$32.3 million at the time. During the 2025/26 campaign, he needed 25 appearances to reach eight goals. Before leaving Rio de Janeiro, he won both the Brazilian championship and the Copa Libertadores with Flamengo in 2025.
Reflecting on that departure, Juninho said he believed he left Flamengo with more affection than resentment around him. His view was simple: when the club required him, he was present.
