How Rio de Janeiro Dresses on a Flamengo Match Day.

All words and images by Vitor Melo.

Vitor Melo is a documentary photographer and visual artist based in Rio de Janeiro. He recently covered Flamengo’s latest Copa Libertadores match, producing a visual series titled “How Rio de Janeiro Dresses on a Flamengo Match Day.”

The project captures the city’s distinctive urban atmosphere, showing how Rio transforms and dresses itself to welcome — and amplify — the energy of game day for Brazil’s most beloved club.

Football Culture in Rio

Football culture in Rio has its own charm. It’s built around four main pillars — the big Carioca clubs: Flamengo, their historic rival Fluminense, plus Vasco and Botafogo. Beyond them, there are other traditional teams that play a huge role in shaping the popular imagination when it comes to football in Rio: Bangu, América, and São Cristóvão, which, by the way, gave the world Ronaldo Fenômeno.

These smaller teams have deep roots within neighbourhoods and suburbs — it’s a long story, one that mixes with the city’s own history, landscape, samba, and other forms of Carioca culture.

When it comes to culture, hospitality, and diversity, Rio always takes the lead — and football is no exception. The atmosphere on match days, especially during the big clásicos, is unmatched. Even the Carioca Championship, which is a smaller tournament, carries this passionate vibe — with fans of clubs that might not be in the national spotlight, but who still show up with their hearts on their sleeves.

Rio, in fact, is one of the only states in Brazil where a 50/50 crowd is allowed in clásicos. Supporters hold this very dearly, because it’s such a special part of football. Having your opponent at the other end of the stadium teaches you about life’s ups and downs, and people in Rio value that a lot.

I like to joke that Rio is built on three foundations: samba — especially the rodas de samba and the samba schools — the natural beauty that sweeps you off your feet and makes you fall in love with the Carioca way of life, and of course, football. Together, they’re like the gears that make everyday life in Rio spin in a more beautiful and inspiring way.

Match Day with Flamengo

Rio just feels different when Flamengo are playing. For us rubro-negros, the symbols of the club go far beyond football or love for the game — they’re how we connect with each other and with the world.

Being the biggest fan base in the world, and Brazil’s most beloved club, we sort of multiply ourselves everywhere. It’s like an invisible support network that fuels our daily lives, until the moment the match kicks off and all that energy bursts out — whether you’re at the Maracanã, in a bar with friends, or watching at home. There’s a special feeling in stepping onto the street and seeing someone wearing the Flamengo jersey just like you — and that happens a lot.

People often joke that Flamengo’s supporters are called A Magnética — the Magnetic Ones — because there’s something irresistible about the red and black colours. And it’s true: you’ll see them everywhere in Rio. On delivery riders’ motorbike boxes with the Flamengo crest, on public workers wearing the club’s socks over their uniforms, or simply in the thousands of jerseys walking along the beach on a sunny day.

It’s impossible to imagine Rio de Janeiro without Flamengo, and equally impossible to picture Flamengo without the Carioca ecosystem. The club has grown into a national institution with millions of supporters across Brazil, but it has always kept its Carioca spirit — even among people who have never set foot in Rio. It’s unique, peculiar, and full of the kind of magic only Rio knows how to create.

What You See on Match Day

Being a Flamengo fan means seeing yourself everywhere in Rio on match day. The city is literally taken over by a red-and-black wave — and it only grows stronger when it’s a big game or a final.

Even on an ordinary day without football, it’s almost impossible to walk through Rio and not spot Flamengo somewhere. A jersey on the street, a flag flying from a balcony, a car with a sticker, or a delivery rider with the crest on the back of his box. We like to joke that we’re everywhere.

We even keep an eye out for vultures flying overhead — they’re our mascot and always a good omen on match day. That story goes back years: Flamengo were always seen as the people’s club, popular among the masses and the poor. Supporters of other clubs started calling us “urubus” (vultures), saying, “it’s black and lives in rubbish.” Instead of taking offence, we embraced it. It became part of our identity — we’re proud of who we are, and we always fly higher than anyone else.

There’s even a phrase among supporters: “somos todos menos alguns” — “we are all Flamengo, except for a few.” It really captures the spirit. Just like people talk about the “American way of life,” there’s a rubro-negro way of life. Being Flamengo isn’t just about football — it’s a spirit, a state of being, an identity.

Why Flamengo Are So Huge

That’s not an easy question to answer. It’s really a combination of historical factors, sporting highlights, and a bit of transcendental magic that created the perfect conditions for Flamengo to become the powerhouse it is today.

One turning point was when the club gained national relevance thanks to its massive presence on the radio and TV. Another was when Flamengo truly became known as the people’s club — representing the masses, bringing together layers of society that don’t always mix in daily life, but who stand shoulder to shoulder in the stands, united by each goal. It’s a club that is democratic, socially unifying, and deeply rooted in Brazil’s collective identity.

Beyond that, Flamengo has always been a club that artists are passionate about. Jorge Ben — arguably Brazil’s greatest musician — is a diehard fan. He put the crest on his album covers, wrote a song about a goal, and in his most famous track, proudly sings that he’s Flamengo. João Nogueira, Elza Soares, Gal Costa, MC Marcinho, Alcione, Arlindo Cruz — the list of names who have carried Flamengo into music, literature and journalism goes on.

Then there are the triumphs and the players. Flamengo’s history is full of legendary figures, above all Zico, who became not just a club icon but a symbol of world football. In the end, it’s this mix of history, culture, and sporting glory that created the perfect atmosphere for Flamengo to grow into the giant it is today.