Melo: Club World Cup has shown South America can compete with Europe

Former Fluminense midfielder Felipe Melo believes teams from South America have shown at the Club World Cup that they have the ability to compete with sides from Europe. 

Fluminense have been the surprise package of the revamped tournament in the United States, reaching the semi-finals where they take on Chelsea on Tuesday. 

Renato Portaluppi's side finished second in Group F behind Borussia Dortmund, but were able to draw with the Bundesliga side in their opening match of the competition. 

Elsewhere, other Brazilian teams impressed. Flamengo finished top of their group, beating Chelsea along the way, while Botafogo also made it to the knockout stages. 

Palmeiras also reached the quarter-final stage before they were beaten by Chelsea. Boca Juniors and River Plate were the only South American teams that failed to get out of their groups. 

"European clubs might be better, but the current world champion team is South American [Argentina] and the one who has the most titles is also South American [Brazil]," Melo told reporters at the Club World Cup. 

"The best players are South Americans. We send our best players over there [to Europe], so we do still have the quality."

Melo, who made 108 appearances across all competitions for Fluminense between 2022 and 2024, believes his former club have the quality to win the tournament. 

Jhon Arias created five chances in Fluminense's win over Al-Hilal in the quarter-final, his second match with at least five chances created in this year’s competition (six vs. Ulsan Hyundai in the group stage).

He also made three defensive line-breaking passes against the Saudi Pro League side, more than any other player in that quarter-final tie.

Hercules' goal in the last round was the fourth scored by a substitute for Fluminense in this year's tournament, tied with Palmeiras and Chelsea for second-most. 

And despite the Opta supercomputer handing Fluminense a 19% chance of reaching the showpiece match, Melo remained confident. 

"Fluminense are a team that defends very well. Against Inter, Renato [Gaucho] displayed his perfect tactics," Melo added. 

"They are a team with great physical strength, especially with their key player Jhon Arias. For Fluminense they are decisive, defend very well and make counterattacks.

"I am a bit worried because [Juan Pablo] Freytes won't play and is a key player with this line of five at the back that Renato [Gaucho] uses. He is a left-footed guy who goes forward, playing with the ball near him.

"But Thiago Santos is still there and generally the team is making history, having reached the World Cup semi-final. They are making history."

The tournament has come under fire from many of the teams competing in Europe due to the mid-summer conditions in the United States. 

Melo, however, believes the competition has been a success. 

"I truly think that what FIFA planned is going well, because at least in Brazil the audience [for the Club World Cup] is higher than the FIFA World Cup, so people liked the tournament, which is important for South Americans," Melo concluded.

"Argentina also embraced the tournament, and in the end is the influence that it had. I am seeing a very good tournament where even the European teams are leaving everything on the pitch to win."