Brazil legend makes shock comeback aged 58 almost two decades after he retired with 55 international goals from 70 games
BRAZIL legend Romario has made a shock comeback to the beautiful game nearly two decades after retiring.
The World Cup winner, 58, won 70 caps for his country during an incredible 18-year spell until 2005.
ReutersRomario has made a shock comeback to football[/caption]
ReutersHe has come out of retirement to play for a second-tier Rio de Janeiro-based team[/caption]
AFPRomario is a World Cup winner with Brazil and scored 55 goals in 70 games[/caption]
His club career lasted even longer, with Romario playing for 24 years before calling it a day in 2009.
The icon has since hit headlines for dating a string of beauties.
But Romario is now focusing on football again after coming out of retirement this month.
The former forward is president of second-tier Rio de Janeiro side America-RJ.
His 30-year-old son Romarinho plays for the club.
And Romario has made it his dream for the pair to play alongside each other.
He declared: “Now I’m ready to give my beloved America a hand in a few games and also, of course, to fulfil my dream of sharing the pitch with my son.”
In preparation of America’s first league match on May 18, Romario took part in a club training session on Thursday.
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The former PSV, Barcelona and Valencia ace showed he can still deliver the goods with two well-taken goals from close-range.
And Romario, who famously did not like taking penalties in his prime, will also step up to the spot should America win any when he’s on the field.
ReutersRomario will play for America-RJ, the club he is president of[/caption]
ReutersRomario wants to achieve a lifelong dream of playing alongside his son[/caption]
ReutersThe legend scored twice in training on Thursday[/caption]
Romario joked: “If there is a penalty, our club president will ask to take it. If the coach says no, he will be fired and the club president will take the penalty anyway.”
On his decision to return to playing, he added: “My biggest goal here is to have the chance to play with my son.
“Many athletes have that objective. LeBron James wants to play with his son next year (in the NBA). Rivaldo also had that chance. I want that too.
“I am very tired. I will soon need a stretcher to pick me up.
“For a man who has not trained for 16 years, in general, I managed to run a little.
“But I want to make one thing very clear — I will not play the entire championship.
“My idea is to play for a few minutes in some matches. What matters the most in this competition is America.”
Romario’s career stats
Those numbers in full:
Vasco da Gama, 1985-1988: 141 games, 80 goals
PSV, 1988-1993: 149 games, 128 goals
Barcelona, 1993-1995: 65 games, 39 goals
Flamengo, 1995-1996: 79 games, 68 goals
Valencia, 1996-1997: 12 games, 6 goals
Flamengo, 1997-1999: 130 games, 116 goals
Vasco da Gama, 2000-2002: 135 games, 132 goals
Fluminense, 2002-2004: 75 games, 47 goals
Al-Sadd (loan), 2002-2003: 3 games, 0 goals
Vasco da Gama, 2005-2006: 54 games, 39 goals
Miami FC, 2006: 25 games, 19 goals
Adelaide United, 2006-2007: 4 games, 1 goal
Vasco da Gama, 2007: 19 games, 15 goals
America-RJ, 2009: 1 game, 0 goals
Brazil, 1987-2005: 70 games, 55 goals
Trophies: Brasil Serie A, Rio Championship, Copa Mercosur (Vasco); Eredivisie x3, Dutch Cup x2, Dutch Super Cup (PSV); LaLiga, Spanish Super Cup (Barcelona); Rio Championship x2, Copa Mercosur (Flamengo); Qatar Crown Prince Cup (Al-Sadd); World Cup, Copa America x2, Fifa Confederations Cup (Brazil)
