CR Vasco da Gama facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Vasco da Gama

Full name	Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama
Nickname(s)	Gigante da Colina (Giant of the Hill) Camisas Negras (Black Shirts) Vascão (Big Vasco) Cruzmaltino (Maltese Cross) O Legítimo Clube do Povo (The Real People's Club) Vascaínos or Cruzmaltinos (supporters)
Founded	21 August 1898; 126 years ago (1898-08-21)
Stadium	São Januário Maracanã
Ground Capacity	21,880 78,838
SAF owner	777 Partners (suspended) Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama (100%)
President	Pedrinho
Head coach	Fernando Diniz
League	Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Campeonato Carioca
2022 2022	Série B, 4th of 20 (promoted) Carioca, 3rd of 12
Home colors Away colors Third colors

Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama, often called Vasco da Gama or just Vasco, is a famous sports club from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. While it started as a rowing club and has many sports, it is best known for its men's football team. This team plays in the top Brazilian league, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, and the main league in Rio de Janeiro state, the Campeonato Carioca.

The club was named after the explorer Vasco da Gama, 400 years after he found a sea route from Europe to India in 1498. It was founded in 1898 by Brazilian workers and Portuguese immigrants. Vasco started its football team in 1915. It was one of the first clubs in Brazil to officially become professional in football in 1933. Vasco is also known for its youth academy, which has trained many international football stars like Romário and Philippe Coutinho.

Vasco da Gama has won many important titles. Nationally, they have won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A four times and the Copa do Brasil once. Internationally, they won the Copa Libertadores once, the South American Championship of Champions once, and the Copa Mercosur once. They have also won the Campeonato Carioca 24 times in their home state. A special team from 1945 to 1952, called Expresso da Vitória (Victory Express), won many state titles and became the first club to win a continental championship in 1948.

Vasco da Gama is one of the most popular clubs in Brazil and the Americas. Their main home stadium is São Januário, opened in 1927. They also sometimes play at the larger Maracanã. Vasco has big rivalries with other Rio de Janeiro clubs like Flamengo, Fluminense, and Botafogo. The rivalry with Flamengo, called O Clássico dos Milhões (the Derby of Millions), is one of the biggest in world football.

Club History

How Vasco Began

In the late 1800s, rowing was a very popular sport in Rio de Janeiro. Four young friends wanted to start their own rowing club. They didn't want to travel far to join other clubs.

So, on August 21, 1898, these friends and 62 other people, many of them Portuguese immigrants, started the Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama. They chose the name to honor the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. The club's colors were black and white. Black stood for the unknown seas Vasco da Gama explored, and white for his successful journey. Their first uniform had these colors and the Order of Christ Cross, like the sails on Vasco da Gama's ship.

Later, in 1915, Vasco merged with another sports club, Lusitania Sport Clube. This merger created Vasco's football team. Their first football match was on May 3, 1916, which they lost 10–1.

Fighting for Fairness in the 1920s

In the 1920s, football in Brazil was mostly for rich people. Vasco da Gama had a team with players from different backgrounds, including black and mixed-race players. This was not common at the time.

In 1923, Vasco won its first top-division title, the 1923 Campeonato Carioca. They won with a team that included white, black, and "mulatto" players from all social classes.

Because of this, in 1924, other big teams tried to force Vasco to remove some of its players. These players were considered "unsuitable" because they were black, mixed-race, or poor. Vasco refused to do this. The other teams then formed a new league and tried to stop Vasco from playing.

Vasco's president, José Augusto Prestes, wrote a famous letter called the "Historic Response" (Resposta Histórica). This letter changed sports in Brazil forever. It helped break down racial barriers in football. After a few years, Vasco became known as "Clube de todas as raças" (Club of all races). They led the way for a more open and fair football culture.

By 1933, when football became professional in Brazil, most major clubs had black players.

On April 21, 1927, Vasco's own stadium, São Januário, was opened. In 1931, Vasco had a huge 7–0 win against their rivals Flamengo. This is still their biggest win against them.

The "Victory Express" Era (1944–1953)

Between 1944 and 1953, Vasco was known as Expresso da Vitória (Victory Express). This team won many championships, including the Rio de Janeiro championship five times. In 1948, they won the South American Club Championship. This was the first continental club tournament ever played! Famous players like Ademir de Menezes and Moacyr Barbosa played for Vasco during this amazing time.

In 1953, Vasco won its first intercontinental trophy, the Torneio Octogonal Rivadavia Correa Meyer. They also won the Santiago International Tournament that year.

The Super-Superchampions (1956–1959)

In 1956, Vasco won the Campeonato Carioca again. They also played in the Little World Cup and were runners-up to Di Stefano's Real Madrid. Vasco later beat Real Madrid in a friendly game, becoming the first non-European club to defeat a European champion.

In 1957, Vasco went on a tour in Europe. They won 10 games in a row, including another victory against European champion Real Madrid (4–3). This win helped them secure the 1957 Tournoi de Paris title. They also beat strong Spanish teams like Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona with a huge 7–2 score.

In 1958, just before the World Cup, Vasco won the Rio-São Paulo Tournament. This was the most important championship in Brazil at the time. Three Vasco players, Vavá, Orlando, and Bellini, helped Brazil win its first World Cup title. Bellini was even the captain! After the World Cup, Vasco won the 1958 Campeonato Carioca again, becoming "super-superchampion."

In 1959, Vasco continued to beat top European teams like Italian champion Milan. Many people believe this Vasco team was one of the best in the world during 1957–58.

Ups and Downs (1960s-2000s)

The 1960s were a bit harder for Vasco, with fewer big wins. However, in 1965, they reached the final of the Brazilian Championship. In 1966, they shared the 1966 Torneio Rio-São Paulo title with three other clubs.

In 1970, with star players like Roberto Dinamite, Vasco won the Campeonato Carioca again. In 1974, they won their first ever national league title, the Campeonato Brasileiro. They were the first team from Rio to achieve this.

A Second Golden Era (1997–2000)

After winning the Brazilian Championship in 1997, Vasco aimed for international glory. They won the 1998 Copa Libertadores in their 100th year, beating Barcelona of Ecuador. This was 50 years after their first South American trophy.

Winning the Copa Libertadores meant Vasco played in the 1998 Intercontinental Cup against European champions Real Madrid, losing 2–1.

In 2000, Vasco played in the first ever 2000 FIFA Club World Championship in Brazil. They reached the final but lost to Corinthians in a penalty shootout.

Vasco also had an incredible run in the Copa Mercosur that year. In the final against Palmeiras, Vasco was losing 3–0 at halftime. But they made an amazing comeback, scoring 3 goals to tie the game. Even with one player sent off, Romário scored a winning goal in the last minutes, making it 4–3. This is still one of the best games in Brazilian football history.

Vasco also won the Copa João Havelange in 2000, which was their fourth national league title.

Challenges and Relegations (2001–2021)

After 2001, Vasco faced some tough years. They finished lower in the league and almost got relegated several times. In 2006, they reached the Copa do Brasil final but lost to Flamengo.

In 2008, Vasco was relegated to the second division for the first time in its history. This was a big shock for the club. However, they quickly bounced back. In 2009, they won the second division and returned to the top league.

In 2011, Vasco had a great year. They won the Copa do Brasil for the first time, beating Coritiba. They also finished second in the league, just missing out on the title. This year was called Vasco's "Redemption Year." In 2012, they returned to the 2012 Copa Libertadores, reaching the quarterfinals.

However, in 2013, Vasco was relegated again due to financial problems and poor performance. They were promoted back to Série A in 2014. In 2015, they won the Campeonato Carioca after 12 years. But they were relegated again in the same year. In 2016, they won the Carioca championship again and had a 34-match unbeaten streak. They were promoted once more. In 2020, they were relegated for the fourth time and stayed in Série B in 2021.

New Ownership and Return to Top League (2022-Present)

On February 22, 2022, a company called 777 Partners bought a large part of Vasco da Gama. This deal was worth about $330 million.

On November 6, 2022, Vasco secured its return to Série A after two years. They finished fourth in the league, winning a tough match against Ituano FC. In 2023, they finished 15th in the Série A, and improved to 10th place in 2024.

Club Identity

Team Logo

Vasco's first logo was created in 1898. The current logo, with its diagonal stripe, was adopted in the 1920s. It has a black background with a white diagonal stripe. In the middle, there's a sailboat, and the letters "CR" and "VG" are nearby.

The logo has changed a bit over the years, but it still looks like the one from the 1920s. The latest version, from 2021, made the sailboat's sails and flag more curved and added more detail.

Since 2017, Vasco can use the word "Royal" before its name, "Real Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama." This is because the Head of the Portuguese Royal House gave them Royal Patronage.

Kit Colors and Designs

Vasco da Gama's kit evolution

Vasco da Gama has had several different uniforms throughout its history. The first rowing uniform in 1898 was mostly black with a white diagonal stripe.

Vasco's first football uniform in 1916 was all black. It was easy to spot because of a white tie and belt. These were removed in 1929. In the 1930s, the home uniform changed to black with a white diagonal stripe.

In 1945, the uniform changed again. The main color became white with a black diagonal stripe. This stripe was inspired by the uniform of River Plate in Argentina, a club the manager liked. So, both home and away kits had a diagonal stripe.

In the 1970s, the Order of Christ Cross on the uniform was replaced with the cross pattée, which is still used today.

Today, Vasco has three main uniforms. The home shirt is black with a white diagonal stripe, black shorts, and black socks. The away kit is white with a black diagonal stripe, white shorts, and white socks. Sometimes, a third kit is used, like an all-white one with a red cross.

Since 2020, the uniforms have been made by Kappa (brand).

Club Songs

Vasco has an official anthem written in 1918. Another official anthem, "Meu Pavilhão" (meaning My Pavilion), was created in the 1930s. However, the most popular song for the club is an unofficial one made by Lamartine Babo in 1942.

Royal Patronage

In 2017, Vasco was given the right to use "Royal" in its name, becoming "Real Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama." This was granted by the Head of the Portuguese Royal House, Duarte Pio, Duke of Bragança. This title was first planned in 1908 but was delayed.

Home Stadium

São Januário in 2020

Vasco da Gama's main stadium is São Januário. It opened in 1927 and can hold up to 35,000 people. For safety reasons, it can host about 21,880 people for national matches. Sometimes, Vasco uses the larger Maracanã stadium, which can hold 78,000 fans, for big derby games or international matches.

Supporters

Vasco da Gama is one of the most supported clubs in Brazil. It is the second most popular club in Rio de Janeiro state. It is estimated that over 15 million people support Vasco across Brazil.

Vasco fans come from all walks of life. However, many supporters live in the working-class areas of Rio de Janeiro and nearby cities. Vasco also has many fans in other parts of Brazil, especially in the Northeast and North regions. A study by TV Globo found that Vasco was the second most supported team in Brazil's capital, Brasília.

As of June 29, 2022, the club had over 60,000 members in its fan program. In April 2023, CNN reported that Vasco has some of the most "fanatic" supporters among the big clubs in Brazil's Southeast Region.

Main Fan Groups (torcidas organizadas)

• Força Jovem do Vasco
• Guerreiros do Almirante
• Ira Jovem
• Torcida Organizada do Vasco
• Rasta do Vasco
• Força Independente
• Mancha Negra
• Vasconha
• União Vascaína
• Super Jovem
• Loucos pelo Vasco

Club Honours

Vasco's first trophy was the 1923 Campeonato Carioca. This win was special because most of the players were black, and it helped fight against racism in Brazilian football. For many fans, the most important moment was not a trophy, but the Resposta Histórica (Historic Response) letter in 1924. This letter refused a racist order from the Rio de Janeiro league.

Vasco was the first Brazilian team to win an international tournament. It was also the first club in the world to win a continental tournament, the South American Championship of Champions in 1948. The club was also the first to win an intercontinental tournament between two continental champions, the 1957 Tournoi de Paris, against Real Madrid in 1957.

The 1990s were Vasco's most successful decade. During this time, they won two Campeonato Brasileiro titles, four Campeonato Carioca titles, one Torneio Rio–São Paulo, one Copa Libertadores, and one Copa Mercosul.

Major Trophies

•      record
• ^s shared record

Other Notable Trophies

Vasco has won many other tournaments throughout its history, both international and national. These include various friendly cups and regional competitions.

International Tournaments

• Torneio Luiz Aranha (1): 1940
• Chile International Tournament (1): 1953
• Torneio Internacional do Rio de Janeiro (2): 1953, 1965
• Teresa Herrera Trophy (1): 1957
• Santiago Tournament (2): 1957, 1963
• Ramón de Carranza Trophy (3): 1987, 1988, 1989
• Ciutat de Barcelona Trophy (1): 1993
• Trofeo Ciudad de Zaragoza (1): 1993
• Troféu Ciudad de Palma de Mallorca (1): 1995

Youth Team Titles

Vasco's youth teams have also won important championships, showing their strong academy.

• Copa do Brasil Sub-20 (1): 2020
• Supercopa do Brasil Sub-20 (1): 2020
• Copa do Brasil Sub-17 (1): 2025
• Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior (1): 1992

Current Players

First Team Squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Léo Jardim (vice-captain) 2 DF Puma Rodríguez 3 MF Tchê Tchê 4 DF Mauricio Lemos 6 DF Lucas Piton 7 FW David 8 MF Jair 10 MF Philippe Coutinho 12 DF Victor Luis 13 GK Daniel Fuzato 14 MF Guilherme Estrella 15 MF Benjamín Garré 16 DF Riquelme 17 MF Nuno Moreira 18 MF Paulinho 20 MF Juan Sforza

No. Position Player 21 MF Jean David 23 MF Thiago Mendes 25 MF Hugo Moura 26 DF Leandrinho 28 MF Adson 29 DF Lucas Oliveira 37 GK Pablo 38 DF João Victor 43 DF Lucas Freitas 44 DF Luiz Gustavo 45 FW Loide Augusto 77 FW Rayan 85 MF Mateus Carvalho 90 FW Alex Teixeira 96 DF Paulo Henrique 99 FW Pablo Vegetti (captain)

Club Records

Most Games Played

The player with the most appearances for Vasco is Roberto Dinamite, who played an amazing 1110 matches for the club between 1971 and 1993.

Rank	Player	Years	Matches
1.	Roberto Dinamite	1971–1993	1110
2.	Carlos Germano	1990–2004	632
3.	Sabará	1952–1964	576

Most Goals Scored

Roberto Dinamite is also the top goal scorer for Vasco, with an incredible 702 goals! Romário is second with 326 goals.

Rank	Player	Years	Goals
1.	Roberto Dinamite	1971–79, 1980–89, 1991–93	702
2.	Romário	1985–88, 2000–02, 2005–06, 2007–08	326
3.	Ademir Menezes	1942–45, 1948–56	301

Club Rivalries

Vasco has strong rivalries with other football clubs in Rio de Janeiro: Flamengo, Botafogo, and Fluminense.

• Vasco vs. Flamengo: The Derby of Millions

This is Vasco's biggest rivalry, known as the Clássico dos Milhões (Derby of the Millions). It's usually played at the Maracanã stadium. The name comes from the fact that both Vasco and Flamengo have huge fan bases. Their first match was in 1922, with Flamengo winning 1–0.

• Vasco vs. Fluminense: The Derby of Giants

Matches against Fluminense are called Clássico dos Gigantes (Giants Derby). This name comes from the many important games played between them. A famous match was the 1984 Brazilian Championship final, which Fluminense won. That game had over 128,000 fans, one of the largest crowds in Brazilian football history.

• Vasco vs. Botafogo: The Friendship Derby

The rivalry with Botafogo is known as the Clássico da Amizade (Friendship Derby). It's called this because it's seen as a "milder" rivalry compared to the others. Vasco has won many more games against Botafogo, and there have been fewer big final matches between them. Their first game was in 1923, with Vasco winning 3–1.

Vasco's Legacy

Because of Vasco's long history and importance, several other sports clubs around the world are named after it. These include clubs in other Brazilian states, India, and South Africa. For example, Vasco Sports Club in India and CR Vasco da Gama Football Club in South Africa. Also, the Tomazinho Futebol Clube in Brazil has a logo and colors very similar to Vasco's.

Other Sports at Vasco

Vasco da Gama is not just about football. It's a big sports club with many different teams.

• Basketball: Their basketball team, CR Vasco da Gama Basquete, has won the Brazilian Championship three times and the South American Championship four times. Famous NBA player Nenê came from Vasco's basketball team. In 1999, Vasco was the first Brazilian club to play against an NBA team, the San Antonio Spurs.
• Rowing: Vasco's rowing team is one of the best in Brazil and South America.
• Swimming: Vasco's swimmers often represent Brazil in international competitions.
• Women's Football: Vasco also has a women's football team that has won the National Championship four times.
• Beach Soccer: Vasco's beach soccer team is one of the best in the world. They have won the World Championship once and the South American Championship three times.

Vasco da Gama has many other sports teams that have won national and international titles.

See also

In Spanish: Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama para niños

• CR Vasco da Gama (women)
• CR Vasco da Gama (basketball)
• CR Vasco da Gama (beach soccer)