Flamengo, from Rio de Janeiro, founded on November 15, 1895 as a rowing
club, is the most popular soccer team in Brazil, with more than 30 million supporters, placed 9th in FIFA
best clubs of the 20th Century and 10th in magazine Placar’s Ranking. His fans use other nicknames, such as “Mengo”, “Mengão”, “Fla” or “Rubro-Negro” and the club’s mascote is the vulture. Many
brazilian soccer stars played in Flamengo since the club’s start, such as Leônidas da Silva, Zizinho, Domingos da Guia, Dida, but the golden age beginning in 1978, when the team won Rio State Championship. The five following years would be years of glory. Stars as Junior, Carpegiani, Adílio, Cláudio Adão, Tita e Zico to become State
Champions for three times in a row. The excitement and pride of the achievement pushed Flamengo towards its first Brazilian Championship in 1980. Then, as national champions, the club was qualified to play the South American continental tournament – the Libertadores Cup. 1981 is a landmark year in Flamengo''s history. After beating Chilean Cobreloa in three
matches, the club became South American Champions. The next goal was clear: the
World Club Championship, just a single match to be played in Tokyo''s Olympic Stadium, Japan, against European Champions'' Cup winner Liverpool FC. Raul, Leandro, Marinho, Mozer, Júnior, Andrade, Adílio, Zico, Tita, Nunes and Lico were the line-up in charge of playing Flamengo''s most important match ever on December 13, 1981. Two goals by Nunes, one goal by Adílio, and a brilliant performance by Zico were more than enough to make Flamengo the first Brazilian World Champions club since Pelé''s Santos. The next two years would also be great. Another Rio''s State Championship in 1981 and two Brazilian Championships - 1982 and 1983 - closed the Golden Age in a fantastic way. Zico – With 731 matches played and 508 goals scored, Arthur Antunes Coimbra, born in March 3, 1953 – was the best Famengo’s player and one the best midfields of the world. He represented Brazil in three World Cups: 1978, 1982 and 1986, and scored 66 goals in 88 matches. He was chosen 1983 Player of the Year and is considered one of the best players in football history to have never won the World Cup. He was Brazil''s top scorer in their 1982 FIFA World Cup campaign, on a team considered one of the best Brazilian national squads.
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