Anyone familiar with the strength of the Red-Black Nation knows it couldn't have been any different. The largest crowd Maracanã Stadium has ever hosted for a club match in its history was a Flamengo match. On December 15, 1963, exactly 50 years ago, the Mais Querido's state title victory in the Fla-Flu derby was watched by 194.063 fans in the stands, a record attendance for a club match at Maracanã and elsewhere. Interestingly, none of them cheered for a goal: the match ended in a 0-0 draw. Flamengo reached the final playing for a draw, and Tricolor for a win.

The red-and-black team, who were at the World's Biggest Stadium that day, pushed the team to a title the club hadn't won in eight years. Although it was a regional title, this is one of the most important in the club's history, due to the eight-year drought and the massive crowd that turned out for the final, for which, according to Nelson Rodrigues, "the living left their homes and the dead their graves to watch the greatest Fla-Flu of all time."

Paulo Henrique, who played for Flamengo for 12 years (1960 to 1972) and 14 matches for the Brazilian National Team, was a left-back on that team and considers the historic Fla-Flu as the most important of his career.

"Even playing for the Brazilian national team, the greatest game of my life was the 1963 Fla-Flu. For the ninety minutes, Fluminense attacked Flamengo, but couldn't score. It was a very exciting game. We held on to the draw until the end, under a lot of pressure. Flamengo had a great defense. Flamengo's defense, midfield, and attack had great players who controlled the game. For the Cariocas, the state championship was like playing in the Brazilian championship," he declared.

On November 2nd of this year, Paulo Henrique, along with former right-back Murilo and former defender Ananias, was honored for his 1963 title at the 4th International Embassy Meeting, a celebration with past idols at the club's rowing headquarters. In an unprecedented event, the club's Historical Heritage department brought together past idols with Flamengo Embassies throughout Brazil and around the world, demonstrating how their names have been forever etched in the hearts of Flamengo fans. In addition to these three, four other players who won that year's championship are still alive: then-defensive midfielder Carlinhos, right-midfielder Nelsinho, goalkeeper Marcial, and right-winger Espanhol.

The Maracanã's capacity no longer allows for that kind of crowd to be replicated by the nation. But no one doubts that this is the only obstacle preventing the record from being broken by the passionate red-and-black fans.

 

Flamengo 0 x 0 Fluminense

Location: Mario Filho Stadium - Maracanã

Attendance: 194.603 (177.020 paying)

Referee: Claudio Magalhães

Flamengo: Marcial, Murilo, Luis Carlos Freitas, Ananias and Paulo Henrique; Carlinhos and Nelsinho; Espanhol, Airton 'Beleza', Geraldo and Osvaldo Air Bridge; Coach: Flavio Costa

Fluminense: Castilho, Carlos Alberto Torres, Procópio, Dari and Altair; Oldair and Joaquinzinho; Edinho, Manoel, Evaldo and Escurinho. Coach: Fleitas Solich.