Botafogo Statistics: What to Expect from the Glorioso in 2026?

After a dream-like 2024, Botafogo did not enjoy such a strong 2025. It was not a nightmare season, but the club failed to win titles as it had the year before. Statistics help explain how the Glorioso actually play, what their patterns are throughout the season, and where their main strengths and weaknesses lie. For those who follow Football Betting, looking only at the final score almost never tells the full story.

Based on the numbers from the 2025 season, we break down Glorioso's performance across different areas of the pitch, from attacking output to defensive behavior, as well as individual standouts. We also provide an up-to-date overview of the squad in 2026, including recent changes and market value information.

Read on to check out the full data-driven analysis and better understand Botafogo’s current situation.

Botafogo’s 2025 season overview

After winning the Libertadores and competing in the Club World Cup in 2024, Botafogo began 2025 surrounded by high expectations, but experienced a year of ups and downs both on and off the pitch. The season started with the departure of key figures and difficulties in planning and squad building.

In the Brazilian Championship, the Alvinegro remained competitive and finished in 6th place, securing qualification for continental competitions in 2026, although without challenging for the title in the final rounds. In cup competitions, performances were inconsistent. Fogão were eliminated in the Round of 16 of the Libertadores in a balanced tie and fell in the quarterfinals of the Copa do Brasil, once again ending the season without a trophy.

At the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Botafogo had memorable moments: they opened with a win over Seattle Sounders and surprised many by defeating Paris Saint-Germain. The campaign, however, ended in the Round of 16, with elimination by Palmeiras in a closely contested match. In addition, the club lost the Brazilian Super Cup and had a low-profile run in the Campeonato Carioca. Throughout the year, instability, internal conflicts, and changes in management and squad led to performances below the expectations created after the continental title.

What does Botafogo’s squad look like in 2026?

In 2026, Botafogo’s squad directly reflects the unstable year of 2025: it is a lean group, in rebuilding mode, with little room for maneuver, worsened by the FIFA transfer ban imposed due to the debt from the signing of Thiago Almada, which prevents the registration of new signings.

After losing key players and failing to turn strong expectations into titles last season, the club now relies more on remaining players, youth academy prospects, and low-cost bets, while the board attempts to reorganize sporting and financial planning to regain competitiveness and stability.

According to Transfermarkt, this is Botafogo’s current squad:

• Goalkeepers: Léo Linck, Neto, Cristhian Loor, Raul
• Center backs: Alexander Barboza, Kaio, Bastos, Ythallo
• Full backs: Alex Telles, Marçal, Vitinho, Mateo Ponte
• Defensive midfielders: Danilo, Newton, Allan, Wallace Davi
• Midfielders: Álvaro Montoro, Santiago Rodríguez, Jordan Barrera
• Forwards: Matheus Martins, Artur, Nathan Fernandes, Lucas Villalba, Joaquín Correa, Arthur Cabral, Chris Ramos, Kadir Barría

Changes in Botafogo’s squad in 2026

The transition from 2025 to 2026 marked a deep rupture in Botafogo’s squad, reflecting an unstable year both on and off the pitch. Throughout 2025, the club lost much of the core that won continental and national titles in 2024, starting an accelerated rebuilding process. Luiz Henrique and Thiago Almada were sold to European football early in the season, and by January, 11 players had already left, including Tchê Tchê, Eduardo, Tiquinho Soares, and Júnior Santos.

In the second half of the year, the downsizing continued: Cuiabano, Igor Jesus, Jair Cunha, and goalkeeper John Victor were transferred to Nottingham Forest, while Gregore was sold to Qatari football. At the turn of the year, Philipe Sampaio, Mastriani, and Gabriel Silva left the club, completing another wave of departures.

The squad that begins 2026 is almost entirely reshaped, keeping only a few references such as Marçal, Alexander Barboza, and Alex Telles, and betting heavily on young players. The process is further complicated by administrative limitations and FIFA’s transfer ban, which prevents immediate replacements and reinforces the transitional nature of the club at the start of the season.

Botafogo squad market value

According to Transfermarkt, which does not calculate release clause values and some more subjective aspects, Botafogo’s squad is valued at €101.40 million, with an average age of 26.6 years.

The squad’s main asset is Danilo (24), a defensive midfielder valued at €22 million, by far the most valuable player in the group. Right behind him is Álvaro Montoro (18), with a market value of €10 million, one of the most important pieces in the attacking sector.

In defense, the highest values are found among the full backs. Vitinho (26), on the right, is valued at €8 million and ranks among the most expensive players in the squad. On the left side, Alex Telles (33) is valued at €3 million. Among the center backs, the standout is Alexander Barboza (30), with an estimated value of €5 million.

In attack, the wings concentrate a significant portion of the offensive value. Artur (27), valued at €7 million, and Matheus Martins (22), with €6 million, lead the sector. As the main attacking reference, Arthur Cabral (27) is the most valuable striker in the squad, with a market value of €9 million.

Overall, the weight of the squad relies heavily on the midfield and the flanks, where the most highly valued players are concentrated.

Who was Botafogo’s best player in 2025?

Now it is time to take a closer look at the statistics, using Sofascore data as a reference. In the 2025 Brazilian Championship, the players with the highest average ratings were Marlon Freitas, with 7.18, and Jefferson Savarino, with 7.17. Both played important roles during the season but are not part of the squad in 2026. Right after them come Alexander Barboza, Artur, and Alex Telles, all with an average rating of 7.1, and all of whom remain at Botafogo as some of the main figures in the current squad.

In the 2025 Campeonato Carioca, the scenario is similar. The highest average ratings were recorded by Patrick de Paula, with 7.3, and Yarlen, with 7.14, players who have already left the club. Next comes Newton, with an average of 7.03, one of the few standouts from the state championship who remains in the squad. The list also includes Rafael Lobato, with 6.95, Vitinho, with 6.93, and Kayke, with 6.89. Among these names, only Vitinho is still at Botafogo.

Botafogo’s offensive statistics in 2025

Average goals

Botafogo scored 91 goals throughout the 2025 season across all competitions. In the Brazilian Championship, the team scored 58 goals, averaging 1.5 per match, while in the Libertadores they found the net nine times, registering an average of 1.1 goals per game.

In the continental competition, the team did not score any penalties, recorded one free-kick goal, seven goals from inside the box and two from outside, as well as four goals with the left foot, three with the right foot, and two headers. In the Brasileirão, four goals came from penalties, none from free kicks, 47 from inside the box and ten from outside, with 29 goals scored with the right foot, 18 with the left foot, and ten headers, showing a more productive and varied attack in the national competition.

Top scorers

Botafogo’s top scorer in 2025 was Artur, with eight goals in the season — five in the Brazilian Championship, two in the Libertadores, and one in the Copa do Brasil — finishing the year as the leading scorer among players who remain in the squad. He shares the top spot in the overall scoring charts with Igor Jesus, who also scored eight times (with goals in the Brasileirão, Libertadores, Copa do Brasil, Campeonato Carioca, and Club World Cup), but is no longer part of the group in 2026.

Right behind them are Álvaro Montoro and Alex Telles, both with seven goals. Montoro was especially decisive in continental competitions, while Alex Telles stood out on the national stage, with five goals in the Brasileirão and two in the Copa do Brasil. Among the players who left the club, Cuiabano, with six goals, as well as Patrick de Paula and Jefferson Savarino, with four each, also featured among the main scorers of the year.

Looking at the squad that begins 2026, the second tier of attacking contributors is formed by Arthur Cabral and Marçal, with five goals each, along with Chris Ramos, who scored four times, forming the core of players with relevant offensive production after the extensive squad overhaul.

Goal frequency

In the 2025 Brazilian Championship, Cuiabano posted the best goal frequency for Botafogo, needing 309 minutes to score, but the full back is no longer part of the squad in 2026. Among the players who remain at the club, the best rates belong to Alex Telles and Mateo Ponte, both scoring once every 340 minutes, followed by Arthur Cabral, who found the net every 362 minutes, and Artur, with an average of one goal every 385 minutes.

Shots

Considering only the 2025 Brazilian Championship, Botafogo created an average of 2.2 big chances per match but missed 1.4 of them. The team attempted 14.3 shots per game, with 5.1 on target, 5.8 off target, and 3.5 blocked, figures that show an offensively active side but still with room to improve efficiency.

Individually, Arthur Cabral and Jefferson Savarino led the shots ranking, averaging 2.0 attempts per match, followed by Artur with 1.6. The striker also tops the list of missed big chances, with six in the Brasileirão, ahead of Joaquín Correa and Cuiabano, both with five, reinforcing the picture of an attack that generated volume but did not always convert it into goals.

xG

Expected Goals (xG) is the metric used to measure attacking efficiency and places Arthur Cabral as Botafogo’s leader in the 2025 Brasileirão, with 5.16 xG and four goals scored. Right behind him is Artur, with 5.09 xG and five goals, followed by Jefferson Savarino, who totaled 4.18 xG and also scored four times but is no longer part of the squad in 2026. Among the players who remain at the club, Alex Telles stands out with 3.89 xG and five goals, while Chris Ramos closes the list with 3.77 xG and four goals, reinforcing the strong offensive conversion of both players in the competition.

Botafogo passing statistics in 2025

Assists

Considering data from the 2025 Brazilian Championship, the player with the most assists for Botafogo was Santiago Rodríguez, with five assists. Right behind him are Marlon Freitas and Artur, both with four assists in the competition. In the 2025 Libertadores, the main names were Jefferson Savarino and Alex Telles, with two assists each, while Artur completed the list with one key pass.

Average assists

According to Sofascore, Botafogo recorded 60 assists in 2025 across all competitions. The Brazilian Championship accounted for the majority, with 42 assists in 38 matches, reflecting the team’s main source of attacking creation throughout the season. In the Campeonato Carioca, the team registered eight assists, while the Libertadores followed with seven. The FIFA Club World Cup contributed three assists, completing the overview of Botafogo’s offensive distribution over the year.

xA

In the expected assists (xA) metric for the 2025 Brazilian Championship, Jefferson Savarino led with 5.48, converting three of those chances into actual assists. Artur followed with 4.21, turning four opportunities into assists, while Vitinho completed the top three with 4.16 and two assists. In the 2025 Libertadores, Artur also led xA with 1.63, followed by Alex Telles (1.15) and Savarino (0.66).

Ball possession and average passes

In the 2025 Brazilian Championship, Botafogo averaged 51.7% possession, with 390 accurate passes per match and an accuracy rate of 85.6%. The team showed good security in short build-up play, completing 200 accurate passes in their own half (92%), and maintained an attacking presence by completing 192 passes in the final third, with 76.1% accuracy. For long balls, the average was 21.8 per game, with 57.2% accuracy, while successful crosses averaged 5.1 per match, with 28.1% efficiency.

In the 2025 Libertadores, the team posted slightly more aggressive territorial control numbers, reaching 54.3% possession. There were 389 accurate passes per match, with 83.3% accuracy, along with 209 passes in their own half (91%) and 185 in the final third (72.5%). Botafogo also increased the use of long balls, averaging 27.3 per match with 56% accuracy, while maintaining stable crossing numbers: five accurate crosses per game, with 28.6% efficiency.

Accurate and key passes

In the 2025 Brazilian Championship, the players who completed the most passes per match for Botafogo mainly operated in build-up and protective roles. Marlon Freitas led with 56.7 accurate passes per game, achieving 90% accuracy. He was followed by Alexander Barboza, with 49.7 passes (84%), and David Ricardo, with 45.5 and 88% efficiency. When looking at key passes per match, Jefferson Savarino led with 1.8, followed by Artur and Santiago Rodríguez, both with 1.4.

In the 2025 Libertadores, passing volume was even more concentrated among midfielders and defenders. Gregore topped the list with 67.7 accurate passes per match, reaching 91% accuracy, while Marlon Freitas (46.5, 85%) and Alexander Barboza (43.8, 79%) completed the top three. When the focus shifts to direct chance creation, Alex Telles led the team with 1.8 key passes per match, ahead of Artur (1.3) and Barboza, who once again appears with 0.7.

Botafogo defensive statistics in 2025

Clean sheets and goals conceded

Botafogo played 70 matches in 2025 and posted relatively balanced defensive numbers throughout the season. The team finished the year with 25 clean sheets, with the Brazilian Championship standing out with 15, in addition to three in the Libertadores, three in the Copa do Brasil, three in the Campeonato Carioca, and one in the FIFA Club World Cup.

In total, Botafogo conceded 70 goals in 2025, which represents an overall average of 1 goal conceded per match. The competition with the strongest defensive performance was the Copa do Brasil, with an average of just 0.5 goals conceded per game, while the Brasileirão maintained a solid average of 1 goal. The most concerning figures appear in single-match tournaments: 2 goals conceded per game in the Recopa and 3 in the Brazilian Super Cup, highlighting defensive fluctuations in finals despite the consistency shown in round-robin competitions.

Tackles, interceptions, and clearances

Botafogo’s defensive numbers in the 2025 Brazilian Championship help explain why the team managed to remain competitive despite the changes in the squad. Throughout the competition, the team recorded 15.4 tackles per match, along with 7.7 interceptions and 22.3 clearances per game. In terms of ball recovery, Botafogo regained possession 45.1 times per match, a high figure within the league.

Individually, Alexander Barboza stood out as the main defensive pillar. The center back led the team in tackles (1.9 per game), interceptions (0.9), and was the player with the most clearances per match (6.7), reinforcing his importance in protecting the penalty area. Vitinho also posted strong tackling numbers, with 1.9 per game, while contributing 2.1 clearances.

Among players who are no longer part of the squad, Marlon Freitas averaged 1.3 tackles per match, while David Ricardo recorded 0.7 interceptions and 4.9 clearances, relevant figures before his departure. Newton rounded out the top three in interceptions within the squad with 0.8 per game, showing active involvement in defensive reading from midfield.

Yellow and red cards

Botafogo were far from being an excessively aggressive team in the 2025 Brazilian Championship, but the numbers show a squad that was frequently booked throughout the competition. The team finished the league with 91 yellow cards, which represents an average of 2.4 per match.

The main name in this negative statistic was Alexander Barboza, who led the team with 15 yellow cards, reflecting his more combative role in the defensive system. Right behind him appear Marlon Freitas and Allan, both with eight bookings, while Santiago Rodríguez completed the group of the most penalized players with six cards.

Red cards were less frequent, but still notable: Botafogo received five red cards in the Brazilian Championship. David Ricardo accounted for two of them, while Kaio Pantaleão, Jeffinho, and Chris Ramos completed the list, with one dismissal each.

Botafogo goalkeeper statistics in 2025

Botafogo did not have a fully established first-choice goalkeeper in 2025, a scenario that helps explain the rotation also seen in the current season. In the Brasileirão, Léo Linck was the most used, while Neto had limited involvement due to injury.

Léo Linck played 17 matches and conceded 20 goals (an average of 1.2 per game), almost all from inside the box. The goalkeeper made 35 saves, averaging 2.1 per match with a 64% save rate, and maintained 100% success on accurate sweeper actions, although with low volume. On penalties, he did not save either of the two spot kicks he faced, and his goals prevented figure (-1.33) indicates below-expected performance.

Neto, signed midway through the year, featured in only three matches before suffering an injury in September. He conceded three goals (1.0 per game), all from inside the box, and recorded seven saves, averaging 2.3 per match with a 70% save rate, along with solid sweeper actions (100%). The goalkeeper finished 2025 with goals prevented of -1.14 and became available again in 2026 after recovering from injury.

Play responsibly on Blaze

You now have a clearer picture of Botafogo’s current situation and the numbers that defined the last season. Still, it is important to remember that statistics do not guarantee results. Football is decided on the pitch, by people, and is always subject to variation, which is part of its charm and unpredictability.

Before placing your picks on Botafogo matches or any other team, treat betting purely as a form of entertainment. Studying data and statistics helps you make more informed decisions, but it does not eliminate the risks involved, including those related to mental health and financial control. Never use money you cannot afford to lose and always maintain a responsible relationship with betting.

The 2026 season promises strong emotions for Botafogo supporters. To make it even more exciting, check out Blaze’s Sports Betting page.