club de regatas vasco da gama also known as vasco da gama or simply vasco, is a brazilian professional sports club based in rio de janeiro, in the neighborhood of são cristovão. although it competes in a number of different sports, vasco is mostly known for its football team. the club is probably passing through the worst period in its history, since in the last 12 years, vasco has fallen to the second division of the brazilian football championship four times.