Vasco da Gama 1948

The 1948 Vasco, known as the Express of Victory, won the South American Championship of Champions in Santiago, Chile, considered the forerunner of the Copa Libertadores. The team had Barbosa, Ademir, Danilo Alvim, and Friaça.

History

Vasco da Gama assembled, in the second half of the 1940s, one of the strongest teams in the history of Brazilian football. The nickname Express of Victory arose from the speed and consistency of the team, coached by Flávio Costa. The squad included goalkeeper Barbosa, midfielder Danilo Alvim, forward Ademir de Menezes, and winger Friaça, among others. The team won the Rio de Janeiro State Championships in 1945, 1947, 1949, and 1950. In 1948, the club competed in Santiago, Chile, in the South American Championship of Champions, organized by Colo-Colo, which brought together the national champions of South America. Vasco became champions, the first continental title of a Brazilian club, a tournament recognized by Conmebol as the forerunner of the Copa Libertadores. The performance gave the club the foundation to provide several players to the Brazilian national team at the 1950 World Cup.