Top six matches with most red cards in football history ft. Cruzeiro vs Atlético Mineiro (2026)
Many football games have set unwanted records with red cards.
Football, standing as one of the most successful sports in the world, has many factors that make the game interesting. Of course, drama in the matches is one of them. There isn’t a week that passes without one of the matches garnering international attention.
This time, the Cruzeiro vs Atlético Mineiro game set a strange record. At times, the players themselves may feel pressure that is nearly unbearable due to the large stakes. It doesn’t take much for this pressure to result in tense and occasionally violent events that all coaches fear.
With this, we take a look at the top six football matches with the most red cards.
The top six matches with the most red cards
6. Boca Juniors vs Sporting Cristal: 19 red cards
Two renowned clubs met in the Copa Libertadores. But the game, which appeared to deliver a lot of entertainment, turned into one of the most brutal matches. The team’s players engaged into physical brawl.
When Boca Juniors played Sporting Cristal of Peru in the Copa Libertadores in 1971, 19 players were given marching orders in an encounter that would go down in the brutality hall of history. It was one of the most notorious of dirty encounters, one of the worst evenings in football history, and a blot on the beautiful game.
5. Recreativo Linense vs Saladillo De Algeciras: 19 red cards
In January 2009, a regional first-division match in Spain turned into a farce after the referee gave a staggering 19 red cards. Recreativo Linense and Saladillo de Algeciras’ match took a turn for the worse when a red card from Recreativo sparked a furious altercation that resulted in the game’s abandonment. The referee then dismissed nine more players from each team.
4. Sportivo Ameliano vs General Caballero: 20 red cards
Sportivo Ameliano and General Caballero, the Paraguayan teams, faced each other in one of the most highly intense games. It made history in 1993 when the match resulted in 20 red cards.
According to the reports, two Sportivo players’ dismissals sparked a 10-minute altercation that ended with the game being abandoned with a score of reds. It resulted in a total of 20 red cards being shown to both teams’ players, creating an unwanted record in the division.
3. Portuguesa vs Botafogo: 22 red cards
A Brazilian club encounter between Portuguesa and Botafogo was one of the worst football matches in the history of the sport. It set a new record with the most red cards in a single game, which was later broken. However, it was one of the devastasting fixture between two sides who ended up receiving 22 red cards from the referee.
Every personnel was given the marching orders from both teams.
2. Cruzeiro vs Atlético Mineiro: 23 red cards
One of the most notorious incidents in Brazilian football history occurred on what should have been Cruzeiro’s night of joy. At the Mineirão Stadium on Sunday, Cruzeiro defeated fierce rivals Atlético Mineiro 1-0 to win the Campeonato Mineiro title. However, the match devolved into unparalleled violence, resulting in an astounding 23 red cards—a new record for Brazilian football.
Christian, a midfielder for Cruzeiro, and Everson, the goalie for Atlético, collided violently, pushing the former to the ground. A minor altercation in 2026 quickly turned into a large-scale altercation involving players from both teams, coaches, and even security guards.
1. Claypole vs. Victoriano Arenas: 36 red cards
In a 2011 encounter between Argentine teams Claypole and Victoriano Arenas, the world milestone for red card issuance in a senior match was established.
Following the dismissal of two players in the first half, a huge riot involving players, coaches, and supporters resulted from a flurry of risky lunges and fights throughout the second half.
Every single player received a red card from referee Damian Rubino, who also dismissed coaches and substitutes.
A total of 36 red cards were shown in this match.
Which match set a new record of most red cards in a Brazilian game?
Cruzeiro’s game against Atlético Mineiro set that record after seeing the most dismissals.
Which game has seen the most dismissals?
Claypole vs. Victoriano Arenas, in 2011, saw a total of 36 dismissals.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.