While Vasco da Gama made little impression on the national Serie A campaign in 1970, the club did capture its first Campeonato Carioca since 1958 under coach and former Brazilian playing legend, Tim. Vasco had lost a long-serving veteran in World Cup central defender Brito the previous season, but 1970 would herald the start in the journey of another great Vasco star - the explosive forward Roberto Dinamite.

He trained with the first team this season and made his debut in November of 1971 at the age of 17. That debut against Internacional brought a spectacular goal and the christening of the “Dinamite” nickname by a watching journalist. Roberto Dinamite would become a club icon by spending most of the next two decades with Vasco, becoming both the club’s historic record appearance maker and top scorer.