The phrase comes from Brazilian football culture around Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama, the Rio de Janeiro club founded in 1898. Vasco have a huge, loyal fanbase but have also endured several relegations and long trophy droughts in the modern era, which rival supporters love to exaggerate. The rhetorical question turned into a reusable audio joke shared on WhatsApp, TikTok and football meme pages whenever results go wrong. It survives because it works beyond Vasco too, as shorthand for any fan who feels their club is cursed.