Lady Gaga pulled off the biggest performance of her career, and possibly the biggest flex in pop diva history.

But the performance wasn’t just monumental, it was emotional.

It marked Lady Gaga’s long-awaited return to Brazil, her first time performing in the country since 2012. She was previously forced to cancel a 2017 appearance after being hospitalized with fibromyalgia.

On Saturday night, at Brazil’s iconic Copacabana Beach, Lady Gaga drew a jaw-dropping 2.5 million fans to her free Rio de Janeiro concert.

“Tonight, we’re making history,” Gaga declared to the sea of Little Monsters. “Thank you for making history with me!”

While Madonna made headlines last year for drawing 1.6 million fans to the same beach for the finale of her Celebration Tour, Gaga’s crowd now officially dwarfs that number, intensifying the long-standing comparisons between the two Italian-American icons.

Fans began arriving at sunrise just to claim a good spot at the beachfront venue, where organizers set up multiple monitors and 16 sound towers to ensure the massive crowd could experience every second of the show.

At one point, the 14-time Grammy winner, born Stefani Germanotta, appeared onstage draped in a green, blue, and yellow gown in tribute to Brazil’s flag, receiving thunderous applause from the crowd.

“Nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night’s show, the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil,” she wrote the next day on social media. “The sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away. Your heart shines so bright, and your culture is so vibrant and special. I hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you.”

“An estimated 2.5 million people came to see me sing, the biggest crowd for any woman in history,” she continued.  “You can lift yourself even if it takes some time… Thank you, Rio, for waiting for me to come back. Thank you little monsters all over the world. I love you. I will never forget this moment. Paws up little monsters. Obrigada.”

The Queen of Pop has previously admitted she “wouldn’t like” being mistaken for Gaga, telling fans in Toronto, “I mean, you know, nothing against Lady Gaga. Love her. I do! I love anyone shorter than me.”

Their infamous feud dates back to 2012, when Madonna called Gaga “reductive” for releasing “Born This Way,” a track widely compared to her 1989 anthem “Express Yourself.”

The shade didn’t stop there. Madge later mashed up the two songs during her “MDNA Tour,” capped with her not-so-subtle track “She’s Not Me.”

The tension seemed to cool in 2019 when the two posed together at Madonna’s post-Oscars party, but with Gaga now dethroning Madge’s Copacabana record, fans are wondering if the rivalry is quietly back on.

Still, Rod Stewart technically holds the Guinness World Record for the largest free rock concert in history, with 4 million fans attending his 1994 New Year’s Eve performance on the same beach.

As for what’s next?

Gaga will lend her pipes to “Die With a Smile” in Singapore for four nights in May before kicking off her massive 57-date “MAYHEM Ball Tour” at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on July 16, 18, and 19.

This tour is more than just another string of shows for the multi-talented artist. Gaga describes the ‘MAYHEM Ball’ as a purposeful move toward intimacy and theatrical precision, an evolution in her artistry and a direct response to her fans’ constant craving for more unforgettable live experiences.

“There’s something electric about a stadium, and I love every moment of those shows,” Gaga shared. “But with ‘The MAYHEM Ball,’ I wanted to create a different kind of experience, something more intimate, closer, more connected, that lends itself to the live theatrical art I love to create.”

The shift from stadiums to arenas was a carefully considered move.

Gaga shared that performing in arenas allows her to fine-tune every detail, giving her complete creative control over the immersive elements that define the show’s atmosphere.

“We chose arenas this time to give me the opportunity to control the details of the show in a way you simply can’t in stadiums, and honestly, I can’t wait.”

Released on March 7, this year’s album was met with instant acclaim from both critics and fans alike. The genre-bending collection soared to the top of the Billboard charts within days, with standout tracks like “Killah” and “Garden of Eden” quickly achieving cult-favorite status thanks to their sonic range and lyrical intensity.