Clássico dos Milhões

Lore & Background

The rivalry between Flamengo and Vasco da Gama dates back long before the clubs' football teams, as both were founded as rowing teams. The Grupo de Regatas do Flamengo was founded in 1895, and the Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama was founded in 1898. In 1912, the Flamengo football team was created and debuted in the Campeonato Carioca First Division. Vasco had its own football team in 1915, starting in the Third Division. In 1923, with Vasco's promotion to the First Division, the two teams began to face each other in football. The first official match took place on April 29, 1923, at the Paysandu Street Stadium, with Vasco winning 3–1. The derby is the fixture that has had an attendance of over 100,000 people the most times in the history of football, in addition to having the highest average attendance in the history of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. It is also among the seventeen oldest derbies of Brazilian football.

In Their Own Story

Inside the Maracanã, humidity mixes with anticipation as dusk settles over the stadium. A sea of red and black erupts in rhythmic chants on one side; maroon and white answers with equal fervor from the other. Once the referee blows the whistle, Rio de Janeiro vanishes for ninety minutes. There is only the ball, the grass, and a century of history pressing on every player's shoulders. In the stands, a grandfather points toward the pitch, whispering stories of past heroes to his grandson—bridging generations through the shared pain and ecstasy of this eternal duel.

Reader's Guide

The derby has featured decisive matches in the Campeonato Carioca, Campeonato Brasileiro, and Copa do Brasil, including the finals of the latter in the 2006 edition. Notable periods include Flamengo's thirteen consecutive unbeaten games against Vasco between 1940 and 1943, and Vasco's Expresso da Vitória, which went 19 matches without losing to Flamengo from 1945 to 1951. In the 1970s and 1980s, the rivalry was embodied by Roberto Dinamite and Zico. In the 1990s, Bebeto and Romário swapped clubs, increasing tension. The 2000s included the famous 'chocolate' match on Easter Sunday 2000, when Vasco beat Flamengo 5–1. In the 2010s, Vasco had an unbeaten streak of 10 games against Flamengo between 2015 and 2017. In the 2020s, Flamengo's 6–1 thrashing of Vasco in the 2024 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A symbolized the difference in form between the teams.

Did You Know?

• The first official match between Flamengo and Vasco took place on April 29, 1923, with Vasco winning 3–1.
• The derby has had the most attendances of over 100,000 people in football history.
• Vasco's biggest win in the derby is 7–0, on April 26, 1931.
• Flamengo's biggest win is 6–1, on June 2, 2024.
• Vasco's longest unbeaten run against Flamengo is 23 matches (17 wins and 6 draws), from May 13, 1945, to March 25.