Romário facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Romário
Official portrait, 2023
Senator for Rio de Janeiro
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 February 2015
Preceded by	Francisco Dornelles
Second Vice President of the Federal Senate
In office 1 February 2021 – 1 February 2023
President	Rodrigo Pacheco
Preceded by	Izalci Lucas
Succeeded by	Rodrigo Cunha
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office 1 February 2011 – 1 February 2015
Constituency	Rio de Janeiro
Personal details
Born	(1966-01-29) 29 January 1966 (age 59) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Political party	PL (2021–present)
Other political affiliations	PP (2001–2009) PSB (2009–2017) PODE (2017–2021)
Height	1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Spouses	Mônica Santoro ​ ​ (m. 1988; div. 1995)​ Danielle Favatto ​ ​ (m. 1996; div. 2001)​ Isabelle Bittencourt ​ ​ (m. 2002; div. 2014)​
Children	7, including Romarinho
Profession	Footballer, politician
Romário Personal information Playing position Striker Youth career 1979–1980 Olaria 1981–1985 Vasco da Gama Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1985–1988 Vasco da Gama 141 (80) 1988–1993 PSV Eindhoven 110 (98) 1993–1995 Barcelona 46 (34) 1995–1996 Flamengo 59 (60) 1996–1997 Valencia 11 (5) 1997 → Flamengo (loan) 22 (21) 1998–1999 Flamengo 65 (34) 2000–2002 Vasco da Gama 73 (79) 2002–2004 Fluminense 73 (45) 2003 → Al Sadd (loan) 3 (0) 2005–2006 Vasco da Gama 50 (35) 2006 Miami FC 25 (19) 2006 → Adelaide United (loan) 4 (1) 2007 Vasco da Gama 15 (13) 2009 America-RJ 1 (0) 2024– America-RJ 0 (0) Total 698 (542) National team 1985 Brazil U20 11 (11) 1988 Brazil U23 7 (8) 1987–2005 Brazil 70 (55) Teams managed 2007 Vasco da Gama (interim) 2008 Vasco da Gama Honours Men's football Representing  Brazil FIFA World Cup Winner 1994 United States FIFA Confederations Cup Winner 1997 Saudi Arabia Copa América Winner 1989 Brazil Winner 1997 Bolivia Olympic Games Silver 1988 Seoul Team CONCACAF Gold Cup Third 1998 USA South American U-20 Championship Winner 1985 Paraguay Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Romário de Souza Faria (born January 29, 1966), known simply as Romário, is a famous Brazilian politician and former professional footballer. He was an amazing striker, known for scoring many goals. He scored over 700 goals in his career. Romário is one of the few players to score at least 100 goals for three different clubs. Many people think he is one of the greatest football players ever.

Romário was a key player for Brazil when they won the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He was named the best player of that tournament, winning the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball. In the same year, he was also named FIFA World Player of the Year. Later, he was chosen for the FIFA World Cup Dream Team in 2002. In 2004, he was included in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.

At the club level, Romário started his career in Brazil. He then moved to PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands in 1988. He helped PSV win the Eredivisie three times. He scored 165 goals in 167 games there. In 1993, he joined Barcelona. He was part of Johan Cruyff's "Dream Team." He won La Liga in his first season and was the top goalscorer. Later in his career, Romário played for clubs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He won the Brazilian league title with Vasco da Gama in 2000. He was also the league's top scorer three times. Towards the end of his career, he played briefly in Qatar, the United States, and Australia.

Romário was very good at scoring goals inside the penalty area. He was quick over short distances. His low center of gravity helped him get away from defenders. He was famous for his "toe poke" finish. With 55 goals in 70 games, Romário is the fourth-highest goalscorer for the Brazil national team. Only Neymar, Pelé, and Ronaldo have scored more. He is also the third-highest goalscorer in the Brazilian league's history with 155 goals. He is the ninth-highest goalscorer in football history with 784 goals in 1002 official games.

Romário started his political career in 2010. He was elected as a deputy for the Brazilian Socialist Party. In 2014, he was elected as a senator. He changed parties a few times, joining Podemos in 2017 and the Liberal Party in 2021.

Romário's Football Journey

Starting Out in Brazil

Romário grew up in humble beginnings. He was first noticed playing for Olaria, a small club in Rio de Janeiro. He then joined the junior team of Vasco da Gama. There, he won two state league titles in 1987 and 1988. These wins helped him get called up to the national team for the first time. He became well-known internationally after being the top scorer at the 1988 Olympic football tournament.

Playing in Europe: PSV Eindhoven

Romário training with PSV in February 1989

After the Olympics, Romário moved to PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands. He played there for five seasons. During this time, PSV won the Eredivisie league title three times. Romário was known for his skill in the penalty box. He scored an amazing 165 goals in 167 games for PSV.

His coach at PSV, Guus Hiddink, once said that Romário was very confident. Romário would tell him, "Take it easy, coach, I'm going to score and we’re going to win." Hiddink noted that Romário often made this happen.

Playing in Europe: Barcelona's Dream Team

Romário joined Barcelona for the 1993–94 season. He became a key part of Johan Cruyff's famous "Dream Team." He played alongside great players like Hristo Stoichkov. Romário helped Barcelona win the La Liga title. He was the top goalscorer that season with 30 goals in 33 matches.

Barcelona also reached the 1994 UEFA Champions League final. They were expected to win but lost 4–0 to Milan. Romário scored a hat-trick in a memorable 5–0 win against Real Madrid. This game was called El Clásico. He also scored a great goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

In 1994, Romário was named FIFA World Player of the Year. He had been the runner-up in 1993. Romário left Barcelona in January 1995 after disagreements with coach Cruyff.

Back in Brazil and Spain

In 1995, Romário returned to Brazil to play for Flamengo. He stayed there for five years. During this time, he had two short returns to Spain. He played for Valencia at the start of the 1996–97 season. However, he had arguments with his coach, Luis Aragonés. He was soon loaned back to Flamengo.

Romário went back to Valencia for the 1997–98 season. But he left for good after playing only six league matches. He returned to Flamengo again.

Vasco and Fluminense Years

Romário rejoined Vasco da Gama in 2000. He played with another famous striker, Edmundo. They formed a strong team. They led Vasco to the final of the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship. Romário was the joint-top goalscorer with three goals. They famously beat European champions Manchester United 3–1. Romário scored twice in that game.

At 34 years old, Romário had one of his best seasons. He won the Copa Mercosur and the Brazilian league title with Vasco. In the Mercosur final, Vasco was losing 3–0 at halftime. But they scored four goals in the second half, with Romário completing a hat-trick. Romário won both the South American and Brazilian Footballer of the Year awards. He was the Brazilian league's top goalscorer in 2000 and 2001.

From 2002 to 2004, he played for Fluminense. In 2003, he had a short loan spell in Qatar with Al Sadd. He returned to Fluminense but was later let go after a disagreement with the coach. He then went back to play for Vasco da Gama. In 2005, at 39 years old, Romário scored 22 goals in the Brazilian Championship. This made him the league's top goalscorer for the third time.

Later Career and Big Milestones

In 2006, Romário joined Miami FC in the United States. He helped them reach their first playoffs. He scored 19 league goals in 25 games. He also had a short five-game stay with Adelaide United in Australia.

On May 20, 2007, Romário scored his 1000th goal. It was a penalty kick for Vasco da Gama. The game stopped for over 20 minutes for celebrations. There is some debate about whether all 1000 goals were in official games. FIFA says he officially had 929 goals. Vasco da Gama honored him with a statue at their stadium.

Romário also had a brief time as a player-manager for Vasco in 2007. He retired from playing and coaching in 2008. However, in 2009, he came out of retirement to play for America in Rio de Janeiro. He did this to honor his late father's wishes. He played one game, helping America win a title. In 2024, at 58, Romário came out of retirement again to play for America. He plans to play alongside his son, Romarinho.

Romário's International Career with Brazil

Romário's No.11 Brazil shirt

Romário was a key player for the Brazil national team. He won a silver Olympic medal in Seoul in 1988. He was the top scorer there with seven goals. He became a national hero in the 1989 Copa América. He scored the only goal in the final against Uruguay. This ended Brazil's long wait for a trophy at the Maracanã. He played in the World Cups of 1990 and 1994. He scored 71 goals in 85 international matches. This makes him the fourth-highest goalscorer for Brazil.

1990 World Cup Journey

Romário was a highly anticipated star for the 1990 World Cup in Italy. But he got a serious injury before the tournament. He tried hard to recover. He was included in the squad. However, he only played for 66 minutes in one match against Scotland. Brazil was knocked out by Argentina in the round of 16.

Winning the 1994 World Cup

Franco Baresi (no. 6) going for the ball before Romário (no. 11), Brazil v Italy, 1994 FIFA World Cup Final; Paolo Maldini (no. 5) and Roberto Mussi (no. 8) observe.

In 1992, Romário had a disagreement with Brazil's coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira. Romário was left out of the team for a while. Brazil struggled in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers. They even lost their first-ever World Cup qualifying match against Bolivia. Fans and journalists called for Romário to return.

Brazil needed to win or draw against Uruguay to qualify. Parreira finally called Romário back. Romário famously said before the game, "I already know what is going to happen: I'm going to finish Uruguay." Brazil won 2–0, with Romário scoring both goals. Parreira later said, "God sent Romário to the Maracanã."

Romário and his 1994 teammate Dunga (far left), with Brazil president Lula, hold the World Cup trophy

At the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Romário teamed up with Bebeto. They led Brazil to their fourth World Cup title. Romário scored five goals in the tournament. He scored one in each of the first three matches. He also scored against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. He scored the winning header against Sweden in the semifinals.

Romário also helped Bebeto score the only goal against the United States. In the final against Italy, the game was a goalless draw. Romário scored Brazil's second penalty in the shoot-out. Brazil won 3–2. Romário won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. He was also named to the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team.

Romário and Bebeto had a famous goal celebration. After Bebeto scored against the Netherlands, he rocked an imaginary baby. Romário joined him in the celebration. This became one of the most iconic moments of the tournament.

The Ro-Ro Attack

In the years after 1994, Romário formed a powerful attacking duo with Ronaldo. They were called the Ro-Ro duo. They won the 1997 Copa América in Bolivia. They scored eight goals together in that tournament. In December 1997, they both scored a hat-trick in a 6–0 win against Australia. This was in the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup final. Romário was the top scorer of that tournament with seven goals. The Ro-Ro attack was expected to be a highlight of the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Missing World Cups

Romário was left out of the 1998 World Cup squad. He had a muscle injury and could not fully recover in time. He was very sad about this decision. Brazil lost the World Cup final to France.

Before the 2002 World Cup, Romário was playing very well for Vasco da Gama. But he was again left out of the national team. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari made this decision due to Romário's past actions. Romário had pulled out of the Brazil squad for the 2001 Copa América. He said he needed eye surgery, but then played friendly games for his club and went on holiday. Romário apologized publicly, but Scolari did not change his mind. Without Romário, Brazil went on to win the World Cup for the fifth time.

Final Game for Brazil

Romário at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland in 2007 at the announcement of Brazil being named hosts of the 2014 FIFA World Cup

On April 27, 2005, Romário played his last game for the Brazil national team. It was a friendly match in São Paulo. He was the captain and scored the second goal in Brazil's 3–0 win against Guatemala. After his playing career with Brazil, Romário worked to help Brazil become the host for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Other Sports and Recognition

Romário loves footvolley, a sport that combines volleyball and football. He has played in many tournaments since the 1990s. In 2006, he won a footvolley tournament in Miami Beach. He was also runner-up in the 2011 Footvolley World Championship. He also plays Beach soccer and represented Brazil in the 2005 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

Romário is considered one of the greatest and most successful strikers ever. His coach at Barcelona, Johan Cruyff, called him a "genius of the goal area." He also said Romário was the best player he ever coached. Ronaldo, who played with him, said Romário was the most important player he played with. He learned a lot from Romário. Italian player Roberto Baggio called Romário a "master of art in the penalty area." Diego Maradona said Romário was one of the best players he ever saw.

Romário often wore the number 11 shirt. This inspired Neymar's number at Santos. Romário was nicknamed Baixinho, which means "The Little One" or "Shorty" in Portuguese. He was very agile and had great balance. This made him effective in tight spaces. He was known for his quick moves and sudden changes of pace. He scored many different types of goals, including his famous "toe-poke." He was also good at dribbling and passing to teammates.

Romário was known for being a "goal-poacher" inside the penalty area. He was smart about finding space and losing defenders. He was also known for his speed and creativity. He formed great partnerships with other forwards like Stoichkov, Edmundo, Euller, Bebeto, and Ronaldo. However, Romário was sometimes criticized for speaking his mind and not liking training. He once said, "The night was always my friend. When I go out, I am happy and when I am happy I score goals."

Romário has appeared in commercials for the sportswear company Nike. He was in a Nike commercial in 1998 with other Brazil national team stars. He is also featured in EA Sports' FIFA video game series. He was included in FIFA 14 Ultimate Team Legends.

Romário's Political Career

Romário in the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil on May 6, 2010

In the 2010 general election, Romário was elected to the Chamber of Deputies. He ran with the Brazilian Socialist Party. He was one of the most voted candidates in Rio de Janeiro.

He spoke out against the 2014 FIFA World Cup being held in Brazil. He said there was corruption and money laundering involved. He also disagreed with some football officials. He believes the 2018 FIFA World Cup was "stolen" from England and given to Russia.

On February 19, 2014, Romário announced he would run for the Brazilian senate. He was officially confirmed in June. On October 5, he was elected to the Senate. He received the most votes ever for a candidate from Rio de Janeiro state.

In June 2017, Romário joined Podemos and became the party's president in Rio de Janeiro. In March 2018, he ran for governor of Rio de Janeiro. He finished in fourth place.

In April 2021, Romário joined the Liberal Party. In October, he publicly supported the President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro. He also criticized the previous government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Romário's Family Life

Romário's son, Romarinho, also played football for Vasco da Gama.

Honours and Awards

Romário has won many titles and awards throughout his career.

Images for kids

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  Franco Baresi (no. 6) going for the ball before Romário (no. 11), Brazil v Italy, 1994 FIFA World Cup Final; Paolo Maldini (no. 5) and Roberto Mussi (no. 8) observe.

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  Romário and his 1994 teammate Dunga (far left), with Brazil president Lula, hold the World Cup trophy.

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  Romário (left) in training with Brazil.

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  Romário at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland in 2007 at the announcement of Brazil being named hosts of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

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  Romário playing for Brazil in 1993.

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  Romário in the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil on May 6, 2010.

In Spanish: Romário para niños