Flamengo's history is intertwined with that of the Brazilian national team in the World Cups. In Brazil's very first appearance, in 1930, two Flamengo players were present. One of them, Moderato, took the field and scored twice in the 4-0 rout of Bolivia. Furthermore, that team's coach was also a player from the Mais Querido. Píndaro de Carvalho was a defender on the Rio de Janeiro champion teams of 1914, 1915, and 1920, the club's first titles. Píndaro would be just the first major name in Flamengo's history to coach the Seleção Canarinho. The defender paved the way for Flávio Costa (1950), Zagallo (1970, 1974, and 1998), and Cláudio Coutinho (1978).

The Rio de Janeiro club has also contributed players to several World Cup-winning teams. In 1958 alone, four players played in Sweden. Joel, Moacir, Dida, and Zagallo join the select group of players who won titles for Brazil while playing for Flamengo. Brito (1970), Gilmar (1994), and Juninho Paulista (2002) also achieved this feat, honoring the "Most Beloved" team.

Despite this, other players from the club also played for Brazil and, even without winning, made their mark on the national team's history in World Cups. Zico, for example, played in three World Cups wearing the yellow jersey (1978, 1982, and 1986), and some say that "Galinho" was part of the best national team of all time (1982). One of the greatest players in the history of Brazilian football and largely responsible for the growth of the "Nação Rubro-Negra" (Rubro-Negra Nation), Leônidas da Silva played in the 1938 World Cup, being named the tournament's best player by FIFA, in addition to achieving the top scorer award with seven goals. That same year, Domingos da Guia was named the tournament's best defender, also by the International Football Federation. In addition to these two winners, goalkeeper Wálter also played for Flamengo. The achievement of the Rubro-Negra trio with the Brazilian national team was decisive for the Gávea club becoming the Most Beloved Club in Brazil.


Check out all the red-and-black players who were in the World Cup editions:

1930 - Benevenuto (right-back) and Moderato (left-wing)

1938 - Wálter (goalkeeper), Domingos da Guia (defender) and Leonidas (center forward)

1950 - Juvenal (defender) and Bigode (left-back)

1954 - Dequinha (defensive midfielder), Rubens (right midfielder) and Índio (center forward)

1958 - Joel (right wing), Moacir (right midfielder), Dida (left midfielder) and Zagallo (left wing) | BRAZIL CHAMPION

1966 - Paulo Henrique (left-back) and Silva Batuta (forward)

1970 - Brito (defender) | BRAZIL CHAMPION

1974 - Renato (goalkeeper) and Paulo César Caju (midfielder)

1978 - Toninho (right-back) and Zico (midfielder)

1982 - Leandro (right-back), Junior (left-back) and Zico (midfielder)

1986 - Sócrates (midfielder) and Zico (midfielder)

1990 - Zé Carlos (goalkeeper) and Renato Gaúcho (striker)

1994 - Gilmar (goalkeeper) | BRAZIL CHAMPION
 
1998 - Júnior Baiano (defender) and Zé Roberto (left-back)

2002 - Juninho Paulista (midfielder) | BRAZIL CHAMPION

2010 - Kléberson (midfielder) and Fierro (midfielder in the Chile national team)

2014 - Erazo (Ecuador national team defender)