The Flamengo- Fluminense rivalry began in 1911 when a number of Fluminense players broke away and created a football team with the Flamengo sports club. The first match involving the two sides happened a year later in 1912. Fluminense won the game and a rivalry was born. As is the case with many football rivalries, this one has its roots in a class distinction. Flamengo was the team of the people, whereas Fluminense is the team for the middle and upper classes.
Flamengo wear red and black and have the vulture as their mascot. Fluminense play in green, white and claret are known as Tricolor carioca.
Some of the biggest names in football have played for Fluminense. Names such as Carlos Alberto, Rivelino and Paulo Cesar.
Likewise Flamengo have had their share of star players. Players such as Mario Zagallo, Jorginho, Zico, Junior and Romario.
Part of any good football rivalry is controversy and the Fluminense – Flamengo rivalry has its fair share of it. In the 1941 Rio State Championship, Fluminense only needed a draw to take the title. The score was at 2-2 when the Fluminense decided to start kicking the ball out of the ground at every opportunity they could and into the nearby river. The time wasted by this would be able to ensure that the title would go to them. Flamengo was wise to this and had people in the river, ready and waiting to throw the ball back. In the end, Fluminense got the draw it had been looking for.

It was Brazilian sports journalist Mario Filho who coined the Fla-Flu name. It seems like common sense given the alliteration of the teams’ names which is why it quickly stuck and became the way the rivalry is referred to.

Another aspect of the Flamengo- Fluminense rivalry was the fact that it was only 1941 when Brazil recognized FIFA’s rules. Up until that point, they made up their own rules. Part of this was that the timekeeper told the referee how much time was left in the game. Not surprisingly the timekeepers took advantage of this and either shortened or lengthened the remaining time left in the match, depending on what the score was at the time.

Some people claim that the Fluminense – Flamengo rivalry has been diminished by the presence of other clubs such as Palmeiras, Botafogo and Corinthians. This may be true to some extent, but history and tradition counts for a lot and you can’t get more history and tradition than the Flamengo- Fluminense rivalry. The fans of both sides live for this rivalry.

The Fluminense fans are referred to as "tricolores" which is a homage to the team’s three colors. On match day the fans can be heard for hours singing and cheering. They get dressed up in a variety of outfits consisting of the side’s colours. What makes the Fluminense – Flamengo rivalry so vibrant is that the players really care about it. They want to play in it and on that kind of stage they want to do well. That gives both Fluminense and Flamengo an edge when it comes to recruiting because they can both dangle the carrot of getting to experience the Flamengo- Fluminense rivalry and playing in this fixture.

One of the biggest names in the Flamengo- Fluminense rivalry is Zico. He joined the youth side in 1967, became a professional four years later and in 1978 was regarded as the greatest player in Brazil. He helped steer Flamengo to the 1981 Cope Libertadores Cup and then to a 3-0 win over Liverpool in the 1981 Intercontinental Cup. Liverpool were a great side and had names the likes of Phil Neal, Phil Thompson, Alan Hansen, Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish in the team. Despite their prowess, they were made to look quite ordinary by Flamengo.

Zico could only play for so long in Brazil until the huge money beckoned and he signed with Udinese in Italy.

Fluminense’s golden period coincided with the appearance of Rivelino who was simply in a class of his own. He came to Fluminense from Corinthians and only had four seasons at Fluminense, but they were more than enough to convince people of his star qualities.

If you take a look at the current squads of Fluminense and Flamengo you will see many names you do not recognize. This is because of the player drain which happens in South America, particularly Brazil. There are more Brazilians playing football in Europe and Asia than there are in Brazil. At the age of 13 and 14, talent is identified and young players are signed up. By the time they are 16 and 17, if they are any good they are already affiliated with an overseas club. This is just the way it is and part of the reason for the weakening of the Brazilian domestic football scene. No doubt, in turn it has impacted the Flamengo- Fluminense rivalry. How can it not when your star players are scattered all over Europe. Players such as Julia Cesar, Renato Augusto and Juan.

These things however move in cycles and it may not before too long until the Fluminense – Flamengo rivalry is restored to its lofty heights.