Who are the best Flamengo players of all time? Based in Rio de Janeiro, the club is one of South Americas and Brazil’s most popular football clubs as well as the richest.
Flamengo has had some of Brazil’s greatest ever players, dominated by the club’s Golden Era of the 1980s. These are the ten best players to ever play for Flamengo:
10. Romário
One of the greatest strikers of his generation, Romário started out his career at Vasco da Gama before a move to Europe. After stays at PSV and Barcelona he transferred back to Brazil with Flamengo.
According to Romário only Pele and Maradona are better than him in football history. I’ll let you be the judge. There’s no denying though he was impeccable in the box, and he scored 37 league goals in 62 appearances for the club.
9. Andrade
Defensive midfielder Andrade starred for the club during its legendary Golden Age in the 1980s winning three Brasileiro Série A titles. In 2009 he ended a 17-year title drought for Flamengo as a coach cementing icon status.
As a player he featured in 569 matches as one of the best Flamengo players of all time on the back of his exceptional skill, leadership, tactical intelligence, and his ability to control and dictate tempo of games.
8. Raul Plassmann
Goalkeeping legend Raul Plassmann joined Flamengo from Cruzeiro after 557 games for the club. In six years at his new club he went on to play a further 227 games showing longevity along with marvellous reflexes.
What set Plassman apart from other goalkeepers during his era was his ability to organise his defence, setting the benchmark for future keepers. He also featured in the 1981 team that beat Liverpool to win the 1981 Intercontinental Cup.
7. Adílio
One of the best Flamengo players ever, Adílio had incredible skill, vision, and versatility on the field. He was pivotal in the midfield during the club’s Golden Era, constantly creating scoring opportunities.
Adílio played in 611 matches for Flamengo and scored 129 goals, with perhaps his most significant goal scored in the 1981 Intercontinental Cup, helping Flamengo beat Liverpool 3-0 to become crowned world champions.
6. Leandro
One of the best Flamengo players of all time, Leandro is the club’s greatest ever right-back and shone both defensively and in attack, especially with his ability to whip crosses in.
Leandro helped guide Flamengo to three Brasileiro Série A titles during its Golden Age in the 1980s. He also showed remarkable loyalty playing his entire career at the club featuring in 417 games in total.
5. Júnior
A legendary left-back and captain for Flamengo, Júnior and his afro demonstrated both passion and skill which is what the club is all about. His tactical intelligence and loyalty made him a beloved figure among fans across the world.
All up Júnior played 16 seasons at Flamengo which was broken up by a stay in Italy. He enjoyed four league titles and wowed us all with his overlapping runs, crossing ability and his strong leadership.
4. Domingos da Guia
One of the greatest idols in club history, Domingos da Guia was a genuine entertainer and one of the greatest defenders of his generation. Debuting with Rio de Janeiro side Bangu in 1929, he moved to Flamengo in 1936.
Considered by many Brazilians to be the nations best ever defender, Guia’s ability to play the ball from the back was groundbreaking and way ahead of its time. If only we had highlights of him playing like we do of players today.
3. Zizinho
The fact Zizinho was Pelé’s idol says it all. One of Flamengo’s best players in history, Zizinho debuted for the club in 1939 and dazzled the best footballer of all time with his dribbling, vision and goal-scoring.
Zizinho played as an attacking midfielder with his artistry captivating everyone who watched him. He influenced the future of football well beyond what anyone could have imagined while guiding Flamengo to three state championships.
2. Leônidas
Considered to be one of the greatest pre-World War II centre-forwards, Leônidas was electrifying and a crowd favourite, arriving at Flamengo in 1936. “Rubber Man”, which he was also known by, had an agility was also revered worldwide for inventing the bicycle kick.
Leônidas charm made him one of the most popular football players in the world during the 1930s and 40s and he was a pioneer in kickstarting the marketability of football superstars
1. Zico
Zico makes a case as the greatest ever at finishing and passing, and he’s the best Flamengo player in history. Primarily an attacking midfielder, he spent 18 years at the club and a spell at Udinese and in Japan.
Nicknamed the “White Pele”, Zico was a freak with free kicks which turned him into a global football icon. His style and flair were symbolic of Flamengo. Across two stints for the club Zico scored 508 goals from 731 games.