Erick Pulgar named Libertadores Hero of the Week after Flamengo advances

There are weeks when the quiet work of a defensive midfielder ends up on the front page, and this was one of those weeks for Erick Pulgar. The Chilean, who is going through an excellent stretch at Flamengo, added another honor to his résumé: he was named "Hero of the Week" for the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores, an award handed out after the quarterfinal second legs and decided by fan voting on social media.

The award didn't come out of nowhere. The Antofagasta native was one of the standout figures in the 1-1 draw Flamengo secured at home against Independiente del Valle last week, a result that, combined with the first leg, was enough for Mengao to punch its ticket to the semifinals of the continental tournament. Pulgar was decisive in that stage of the bracket, and his performance didn't go unnoticed by the fans, who ranked him above the rest of the week's candidates.

The fact that the recognition comes from a fan vote gives it a different kind of weight: it's not the choice of a technical panel, but the direct backing of the people who follow the competition and saw the Chilean midfielder as the most influential player among everyone who took the field that quarterfinal matchday. For Pulgar, who arrived in Brazil under pressure to perform for a heavyweight squad, gestures like this confirm that his level of play has been decisive in Flamengo's run through the Libertadores.

What's next: a semifinal against Estudiantes de La Plata

The next challenge for Pulgar and company already has an opponent and confirmed dates. Flamengo will face Estudiantes de La Plata in the semifinals, in a series that will open with the first leg on October 15 in Argentina and close with the return leg on October 22 in Brazil. Riding the momentum of this individual honor and the confidence of having been key to eliminating Independiente del Valle, the Chilean midfielder arrives in peak form to take on a series that could bring Flamengo one step closer to the Copa Libertadores final.