Cano and Pedro Raul have the mission to rescue the historical tradition of top scorers in the derby between Fluminense and Vasco

The nickname of the rivalry between Fluminense and Vasco is “Clássico dos Gigantes”, but it could also be called “Clássico dos Artilheiros”. After all, few clashes can boast of having so many historic strikers dueling against each other — Queixada and Orlando Pingo de Ouro in the 1940s, Roberto Dinamite and Assis in the 1970s, Romário and Magno Alves at the turn of the century… Worthy tradition, but that has faded over the years.

This is the importance that Germán Cano and Pedro Raul will have when they enter the field today, at 6 pm (Brasília time). Their mission is not just to help Fluminense or Vasco win the match valid for the eighth round of the Carioca Championship. But to rescue the historical tradition of a classic that has always been marked by its great scorers.

When we talk about tradition fading away, we need to put it in context. Romário’s second spell at Vasco, after he left the club in 2006, marked the last image of a great scorer wearing the Cruz-Maltese uniform. Since then, names like Leandro Amaral, Alecsandro and even Germán Cano have fulfilled this role, but without the same brilliance. They didn’t have a chance to approach the idol hall.

Fluminense, on the other hand, had a great scorer: Fred, who became the second best scorer in the club’s history and the greatest idol in recent tricolor history. But the eternal number 9 never had a competitor at his height when he faced Vasco.

That is, the classic never again had a correlation between great scorers.

Of course, Pedro Raul still needs to eat a lot of beans and rice to be Romário, just as Germán Cano is far from having the size of Fred in Fluminense. But they bring the hope of being able to pave this way. After all, the Argentine was the top scorer in the last Brazilian, Pedro Raul was the runner-up. It’s been 23 years since the “Clássico dos Gigantes” had two of the country’s top scorers facing each other simultaneously and with so much hope of making Cruz-Maltinos and Tricolors fight for titles.

The 2000 João Havelange Cup marked this last great duel. Romário and Magno Alves disputed the artillery and finished at the top, with 20 goals each – Dill, from Goiás, was the third player among the top scorers. Vasco finished champion.

Another historic confrontation of the classic took place in the decision of the Brazilian Championship of 1984. In addition to Fluminense being champion over a rival like Vasco, the tricolors also saw the best scorer in the history of Colina, Roberto Dinamite, being overcome. The author of the winning goal was Romerito, but the tricolor campaign was bathed in the goals of his “Couple 20”: Assis and Washington.

Bringing it to the present day, the connection between Germán Cano and Pedro Raul also mixes between rivals. The current number 9 Cruz-Maltino was offered to the tricolor at the beginning of the season, as they were looking for a reserve striker. But the values ​​scared. Not so much the amount asked by Kashiwa Reysol, from Japan, but by the agent in terms of salary. Pedro Raul would have the highest remuneration of the cast if the club agreed to pay on request. This for a player who initially came to be a substitute. Obviously, the talks have not progressed.

Meanwhile, Germán Cano left Vasco in a troubled way only among the fans. Internally, the exit was considered through the front door. The Argentine was flexible in dealing with the debt of R$ 3.5 million that the Cruz-Maltino had with him regarding the payment of wages and image rights.

Cano had the highest salary of the cast, around R$500,000. Vasco considered the amount impossible to be paid after the team did not return to Série A. With that, it opened the way for him to go to the tricolor.