CR Vasco da Gama

Brazilian football team.

Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama, commonly known as Vasco da Gama or simply Vasco, is a professional football club based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Founded on August 21, 1898, Vasco da Gama has established itself as one of the most popular and successful clubs in Brazilian football. The club's nickname is "Gigante da Colina" (Giant of the Hill), referring to their original location on Morro da Conceição. Vasco's traditional colors are black and white, which are prominently featured on their iconic diagonal striped shirts. They play their home games at the São Januário Stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 21,000 spectators.

Throughout its history, Vasco da Gama has achieved significant success both domestically and internationally. The club has won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (Brazilian national league) four times, in 1974, 1989, 1997, and 2000. They have also claimed the Copa do Brasil once, in 2011. At the state level, Vasco has been a dominant force in the Campeonato Carioca (Rio de Janeiro State Championship), winning it 24 times. On the international stage, Vasco da Gama has left its mark by winning the Copa Libertadores in 1998 and the now-defunct Copa Mercosur in 2000.

Vasco da Gama's most celebrated period came in the late 1990s and early 2000s when they won multiple national titles and established themselves as a powerhouse in Brazilian and South American football. The club has produced numerous legendary players throughout its history, including Romário, Edmundo, Juninho Pernambucano, and Roberto Dinamite, who is the club's all-time top scorer and one of the greatest players in Brazilian football history.

Vasco da Gama's biggest rivalry is with Flamengo, another major club from Rio de Janeiro. Their matches, known as the Clássico dos Milhões (Derby of Millions), are among the most intense and widely followed derbies in Brazilian football. The club also maintains strong rivalries with other Rio de Janeiro teams, Fluminense and Botafogo.