The best strikers in Vasco’s history are also among the best in Brazil, after all, the club’s history is intertwined with that of national soccer.
But with so many stars who have passed through São Januário, who are the club’s greatest idols?
Throughout this guide, we answer this question by creating a list of the 10 best strikers in Vasco’s history, highlighting their contributions, titles and defining moments.
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Best strikers in Vasco’s history: 10 club legends
1. Roberto Dinamite
Roberto Dinamite, born Carlos Roberto de Oliveira in 1954, is the greatest idol in Vasco’s history.
He began his career at the club in 1971 and played until 1989, with brief spells at Barcelona and Portuguesa.
Titles for Vasco
- Brazilian Championship: 1974
- Carioca Championship: 1977, 1982, 1987, 1988 and 1992
- Ramón de Carranza Trophy: 1987 and 1988
- Gold Cup (USA): 1987
- TAP Cup (USA): 1987
- João Havelange Tournament: 1981
- Guanabara Cup: 1976, 1977, 1986, 1987, 1990 and 1992
- Rio Cup: 1984, 1988 and 1992
- Rio de Janeiro Quadrangular Tournament: 1973
Dinamite is Vasco’s all-time leading scorer with 708 goals. Among them, his bicycle kick goal against Botafogo in 1976 is one of the most iconic in Maracanã history.
2. Romário
Romário de Souza Faria, known as “Baixinho”, is one of the greatest strikers in world soccer. Born in 1966, he played for Vasco three times (1985-1988, 2000-2002, 2007-2008).
Titles for Vasco
- Mercosur Cup: 2000
- Brazilian Championship: 2000
- Carioca Championship: 1987, 1988
- Guanabara Cup: 1986, 1987, 2000
- Rio Cup: 1988, 2001
Among the best strikers in Vasco’s history, Romário was instrumental in winning the Mercosur Cup in 2000.
He also scored his 1,000th goal in 2007, playing for Vasco at the São Januário stadium.
3. Edmundo
Edmundo Alves de Souza Neto, the “Animal”, was born in 1971. He played for Vasco in 1992-1993, 1996-1997, 1999-2000, 2003-2004 and 2008.
Titles for Vasco
- Brazilian Championship: 1997
- Carioca Championship: 1992
- Rio State Cup: 1992
- Guanabara Cup: 1992 and 2000
- Rio Cup: 1992 and 1999
- Capital Championship: 1992
- Bortolotti Trophy: 1997
The club’s eternal idol and a Vasco fan at heart, Edmundo was the top scorer and a key player in winning the 1997 Brazilian Championship.
Known as much for his talent as for his personality, Edmundo is one of the players most remembered by Vasco fans and couldn’t be left out of a list of the best strikers in Vasco’s history.
4. Ademir de Menezes
Ademir Marques de Menezes, born in 1922, is a Brazilian soccer legend and one of Vasco’s greatest idols.
Titles for Vasco
- Torneio Início do Rio de Janeiro: 1942, 1944, 1945 and 1948
- Peace Trophy: 1942
- Rio de Janeiro Lightning Tournament: 1944
- Rio de Janeiro Municipal Tournament: 1944 and 1945
- Carioca Championship: 1945, 1949, 1950 and 1952
- South American Club Championship: 1948
- Gerson do Santos Coelho Tournament: 1948
- Chile International Tournament: 1953
- Rio de Janeiro International Tournament: 1953
- Rivadavia International Cup: 1953
- Racing Cinquentenario Trophy: 1953
Ademir was the main player in the “Expresso da Vitória”, Vasco’s legendary team of the 1940s, which automatically places him among the best strikers in Vasco’s history.
He was also top scorer at the 1950 World Cup, leading Brazil to the runners-up spot.
5. Valdir Bigode
Valdir de Moraes Filho, or “Valdir Bigode”, was born in 1972. He played for Vasco during the 1990s and is remembered for his skill and nose for goal.
Titles for Vasco
- Carioca Championship: 1992, 1993, 1994 and 2003
- Guanabara Cup: 1992, 1994 and 2003
- Rio Cup: 1992, 1993, 2003 and 2004
- São Paulo Junior Football Cup: 1992
- City of Zaragoza Trophy: 1993
- Barcelona City Trophy – 1993
- João Havelange Tournament: 1993
- Rio State Cup: 1992 and 1993
- Palma de Mallorca Trophy: 1995
Valdir was Vasco’s top scorer for several seasons and was crucial in the Rio titles won in the 1990s.
6. Donizete Pantera
Osvaldo Giroldo Júnior, known as “Donizete Pantera”, was born in 1968. He played for Vasco in the 1990s and is remembered for his strength and opportunism.
Titles for Vasco
- Carioca Championship: 1998
- Guanabara Cup: 1998
- Rio Cup: 1998 and 1999
- Copa Libertadores: 1998
- Rio-São Paulo Tournament: 1999
Donizete was a key player in winning the Copa Libertadores, scoring important goals during the campaign.
7. Vavá
Edvaldo Izídio Neto, known as “Vavá”, was born in 1934. He played for Vasco in the 1950s before becoming a World Cup hero.
Titles for Vasco
- Carioca Championship: 1952, 1956 and 1958
- Rio-São Paulo Tournament: 1958
- Rio de Janeiro International Tournament: 1953
- Rivadavia International Cup: 1953
- Chile International Tournament: 1953
- Racing Cinquentenario Trophy: 1953
- Paris International Tournament: 1957
- Teresa Herrera Trophy: 1957
- Lima Quadrangular Tournament: 1957
- Santiago International Tournament: 1957
- Rio de Janeiro Early Tournament: 1958
Vavá is another representative of this list who was part of the Expresso da Vitória, becoming one of the top scorers in the history of the Rio de Janeiro club with 150 goals.
One of the best strikers in Vasco’s history, he won titles such as the first edition of the Tournament of Paris in 1957 after beating Real Madrid.
8. Sorato
Paulo Roberto de Souza, or “Sorato”, was born in 1969 and played for Vasco in the 1980s and 1990s, standing out as a natural goalscorer.
Titles for Vasco
- Copa Libertadores: 1998
- Brazilian Championship: 1989 and 1997
- Carioca Championship: 1988 and 1998
- Guanabara Cup: 1990 and 1998
- Rio Cup: 1988 and 1998
One of the best strikers in Vasco’s history, Sorato scored the goal that won Vasco the 1989 Brazilian Championship.
9. Luizão
Luiz Carlos Bombonato Goulart, or “Luizão”, was born in 1975. He had a brief but remarkable spell with Vasco at the end of the 1990s, being one of the team’s top scorers and contributing directly to their Libertadores triumph.
Titles for Vasco
- Vasco da Gama
- Guanabara Cup: 1998
- Rio Cup: 1998 and 1999
- Carioca Championship: 1998
- Copa Libertadores: 1998
- Rio-São Paulo Tournament: 1999
Read also: TOP 10 Best midfielders in Vasco’s history: their titles and careers
10. Russinho
Titles for Vasco
- Carioca Championship: 1924, 1929 and 1934[2]
- Torneio Início do Rio de Janeiro: 1926, 1929, 1930, 1931 and 1932
- Alberto Baccarat Cup (SP)[3]: 1928
- Myrurgia Cup (Spain)[4]: 1931
- Monroe Cup[5][6]: 1930 and 1931
Russinho, full name Russell Cardoso de Oliveira, was born in 1935 and played as a striker for Vasco during the 1950s, and was one of the mainstays in winning the Carioca Championship in 1956 and 1958.
Among the best strikers in Vasco’s history, he was the club’s first top scorer and the first player to reach the 50, 100 and 200-goal milestones for Vasco, thus becoming part of the team’s history for good.
The strikers mentioned played crucial roles in Vasco da Gama’s success, each with their own unique contributions and defining moments. Vasco’s history is rich and diverse, and these players are an essential part of the club’s legacy.
List of the 10 best strikers in Vasco’s history
The 10 best strikers in Vasco’s history are:
- Roberto Dinamite
- Romário
- Edmundo
- Ademir de Menezes
- Valdir Bigode
- Donizete Pantera
- Vavá
- Sorato
- Luizão
- Russinho
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