Romario de Souza Faria

Romário de Souza Faria is a Brazilian former professional footballer and football manager. Since he retired from football, he served as a Senator for Rio de Janeiro and was also the Second Vice President of the Federal State from 2011 to 2015.

His senior football career spanned from 1985 to 2009. In 1994, he was instrumental in helping Brazil win the FIFA World Cup held in the United States. Also in 2021, he was named the FIFA World Player of the Year.

Player Profile, Personal Life, and Youth Career

Romário de Souza Faria was born on January 29, 1966 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is the father of Romarinho who also played for Vasco de Gama, the club that Romário also played for.

He entered the political scene in Brazil in 2010. He has since become a senator and the second Vice President of the country.

Romário started his youth career playing for his local club Olaria before playing for Vasco de Gama.

Professional Career and National Career

He debuted for Vasco de Gama as a senior player in 1985 the first time around. Romário would later return to playing for the club a number of times throughout his professional career. In 1993, he moved to play for PSV Eindhoven where he was coached by Guus Hiddink.

From 1995 to 1999, Romário played for Flamengo and Valenica. From 2000 to 2005, he would return to Vasco and also played for Fluminense.

In May 2007, he scored his 1000th goal while again playing for Vasco de Gama. It was such a big deal that the game was stopped for 20 minutes to allow for celebrations. FIFA congratulated him but they only officially recognize 929 goals. He started his management career with Vasco in 2007. He also coached for the club in 2008.

Romário announced his retirement in 2008. He cited his weight as one of the main reasons for retiring. He shortly came out of retirement to play for America.

He also played for the Brazilian National Team from 1985 to 2005. During that time, he helped the country win the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Career Highlights:

Vasco da Gama

• 2000 - Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
• 1987, 1988 - Campeonato Carioca
• 1987, 1988 - Copa Mercosur

PSV Eindhoven

• 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92 -

Eredivisie

• 1988–89, 1989–90 - KNVB Cup
• 1992 - Dutch Super Cup

Barcelona

• 1993–94 - La Liga

Flamengo

• 1996, 1999 - Campeonato Carioca

Al-Sadd

• 2003 - Qatar Crown Prince Cup

América-RJ

• 2009 - Campeonato Carioca Second

Division

Brazil Youth

• 1985 - U-20 South American

Championship

• 1988 - Olympic Silver Medal

Brazil

• 1994 - FIFA World Cup
• 1989, 1997 - Copa América
• 1997 - FIFA Confederations Cup

Individual

• 1985 - U-20 South American

Championship's top scorer

• 1986, 1987, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,

2000 - Campeonato Carioca's top
scorer

• 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001 - Vasco da

Gama Player of the Year

• 1988 - Seoul Summer Olympics top

scorer

• 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91 - Dutch

League's top scorer

• 1988–89, 1989–90 - Dutch Cup's top

scorer

• 1989 - Dutch Footballer of the Year
• 1989–90, 1992–93 - UEFA Champions

League top scorer

• 1993 - Onze de Bronze
• 1993 - FIFA World Player of the Year

Silver Award

• 1993–94 - Pichichi Trophy
• 1993–94 - Trofeo EFE Best

Ibero-American Soccer Player of the
Spanish League

• 1994 - FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
• 1994 - FIFA World Cup Bronze Boot
• 1994 - FIFA World Cup All-Star Team
• 1994 - Onze d'Or
• 1994 - FIFA World Player of the Year
• 1994 - L'Équipe Champion of

Champions Sportsman of the year

• 1995, 2000, 2001 - South American

Team of the Year

• 1997 - FIFA Confederations Cup

Golden Shoe

• 1997 - FIFA Confederations Cup

Silver Ball

• 1997, 2000 - Rio-São Paulo

Tournament's top scorer

• 1998 - CONCACAF Gold Cup All-Star

Team

• 1998, 1999 - Brazilian Cup's top

scorer

• 1999, 2000 - Copa Mercosur's top

scorer

• 1999, 2000, 2002 - Placar Golden

Boot

• 2000, 2001, 2005 - Brazilian

league's top scorer

• 2000 - FIFA Club World Cup Bronze

Ball

• 2000 - Bola de Ouro
• 2000, 2001, 2005 - Bola de Prata
• 2000 - South American Footballer of

the Year

• 2001, 2005 - CBF Golden Boot
• 2002 - FIFA World Cup Dream Team
• 2004 - FIFA 100
• 2005 - Rei do Gol Trophy
• 2006 - USL 1st's MVP
• 20062006 - USL 1st's top scorer
• 2007 - Prêmio Craque do Brasileirão

– Special Honor

• 2007 - Golden Foot Legends Award
• 2014 - Marca World Cups All-Time

Team

• International Football Hall of Fame

– Pachuca, México

• Brazilian Football Museum Hall of

Fame

• Ballon d'Or: 1994 – Le nouveau

palmarès

• 2022 - Globe Soccer Awards Player

Career Award

Team History

National Team

• 1985 - Brazil U20
• 1988 - Brazil U23
• 1987–2005 - Brazil

Teams Managed

• 2007 - Vasco da Gama
• 2008 - Vasco da Gama