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Romário de Souza Faria (born 29 January 1966), known simply as Romário (Brazilian Portuguese: ), is a Brazilian politician who previously achieved worldwide fame as a professional footballer. A prolific striker renowned for his clinical finishing, he scored over 750 goals and was the first player to score at least 100 goals for three different clubs. He is considered one of the greatest players of all time. Romário starred for Brazil in their 1994 FIFA World Cup triumph, receiving the Golden Ball as player of the tournament. He was named FIFA World Player of the Year the same year. He came fifth in the FIFA Player of the Century internet poll in 1999, was elected to the FIFA World Cup Dream Team in 2002, and was named in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players in 2004.
At club level, after developing his early career in Brazil, Romário moved to PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands in 1988. During his five seasons at PSV the club became Eredivisie champions three times, and he scored a total of 165 goals in 167 games. In 1993, he moved to FC Barcelona and became part of Johan Cruyff's "Dream Team", forming an exceptional strike partnership with Hristo Stoichkov. He won La Liga in his first season and finished as the top goalscorer with 30 goals in 33 matches. During the second half of his career Romário played for clubs within the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. He won the Brazilian league title with CR Vasco da Gama in 2000 and was top scorer three times in the league. At the end of his career he also played briefly in Qatar, the United States and Australia.
Considered a master of the confined space of the penalty area, his rapid speed over short distances (aided by his low centre of gravity) took him away from defenders, and he was renowned for his trademark toe poke finish. With 55 goals in 70 appearances, Romário is the fourth-highest goalscorer for the Brazil national team, behind Pelé, Neymar and Ronaldo. He is third on the all-time list of Brazilian league's top scorers with 155 goals. He is the seventh-highest goalscorer in the history of football with 780 goals in 1000 official games.
Romario started his political career in 2010, when he was elected deputy for the Brazilian Socialist Party. He was then elected senator in 2014. In 2017, he switched parties for Podemos, and in 2021, he joined the Liberal Party.
Romário has appeared in commercials for the sportswear company Nike. In 1998, he starred in a Nike commercial set in an airport with a number of stars from the Brazil national team, including Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos. Romário features in EA Sports' FIFA video game series; he was included in the FIFA 14 Ultimate Team Legends.
His son, Romarinho, also played for Vasco da Gama in Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
Career Honours 
Brazilian Brasileirao
2000
Vasco da Gama | 
Campeonato Carioca
1999
Flamengo | 
FIFA Confederations Cup
1997
Valencia |
Campeonato Carioca
1996
Flamengo | 
Spanish Supercopa de Espana
1994
Barcelona | 
FIFA World Cup
1994
Brazil | 
FIFA The Best
1994
Barcelona | 
FIFA Golden Ball
1994
Brazil |
Spanish La Liga
1993-1994
Barcelona | 
Spanish La Liga Trofeo Pichichi
1993-1994
PSV Eindhoven | 
Johan Cruijff Schaal
1992
PSV Eindhoven | 
Dutch Eredivisie
1991-1992
PSV Eindhoven |
Dutch Eredivisie
1990-1991
PSV Eindhoven | 
Dutch KNVB Cup
1989-1990
PSV Eindhoven |
Dutch Eredivisie
1988-1989
PSV Eindhoven |
Dutch KNVB Cup
1988-1989
Vasco da Gama |
Campeonato Carioca
1988
Vasco da Gama |
Campeonato Carioca
1987
Vasco da Gama |
Career Milestones
UEFA Champions League Hat-Trick
1992-11-04 |
Former Youth Teams
1981-1985 |
Former Senior Teams
1985-1988 |
1987-2005 |
1988-1993 |
1993-1995 |
1995-1996 |
1997-1999 |
1999 |
1999-2002 |
2002-2004 |
2003 (Loan) |
2005-2008 |
2006 (Loan) |
2006 |
Former Club Staff
2007-2007
Caretaker Manager |
Contracts Fanart 
Banner
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| Vasco da Gama | Appearances | Copa Sudamericana | 2007 | 1 |
| Vasco da Gama | Appearances | Brazilian Serie A | 2007 | 6 |
| Vasco da Gama | Goals | Brazilian Serie A | 2007 | 3 |
| Vasco da Gama | Mins Played | Brazilian Serie A | 2007 | 372 |
| Vasco da Gama | Mins Played | Copa Sudamericana | 2007 | 23 |
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| Adelaide United | Appearances | Australian A-League | 2006-2007 | 1 |
| Adelaide United | Mins Played | Australian A-League | 2006-2007 | 63 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 2005 | 1 |
| Brazil | Goals | International Friendlies | 2005 | 1 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 2005 | 38 |
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| Vasco da Gama | Appearances | Copa Libertadores | 2001 | 7 |
| Brazil | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 2001 | 3 |
| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 2001 | 2 |
| Brazil | Goals | FIFA World Cup | 2001 | 1 |
| Brazil | Goals | International Friendlies | 2001 | 2 |
| Vasco da Gama | Goals | Copa Libertadores | 2001 | 4 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 2001 | 180 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 2001 | 270 |
| Vasco da Gama | Mins Played | Copa Libertadores | 2001 | 630 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 2000 | 2 |
| Brazil | Goals | FIFA World Cup | 2000 | 7 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 2000 | 180 |
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| Vasco da Gama | Appearances | FIFA Club World Cup | 1999 | 4 |
| Vasco da Gama | Goals | FIFA Club World Cup | 1999 | 3 |
| Vasco da Gama | Mins Played | FIFA Club World Cup | 1999 | 390 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1998 | 2 |
| Brazil | Appearances | CONCACAF Gold Cup | 1998 | 5 |
| Brazil | Goals | CONCACAF Gold Cup | 1998 | 3 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | CONCACAF Gold Cup | 1998 | 450 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1998 | 171 |
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| Valencia | Appearances | Spanish La Liga | 1997-1998 | 6 |
| Valencia | Goals | Spanish La Liga | 1997-1998 | 1 |
| Valencia | Mins Played | Spanish La Liga | 1997-1998 | 498 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1997 | 6 |
| Brazil | Appearances | Confederations Cup | 1997 | 4 |
| Brazil | Appearances | Copa America | 1997 | 5 |
| Brazil | Assists | International Friendlies | 1997 | 1 |
| Brazil | Assists | Copa America | 1997 | 1 |
| Brazil | Goals | Confederations Cup | 1997 | 7 |
| Brazil | Goals | Copa America | 1997 | 3 |
| Brazil | Goals | International Friendlies | 1997 | 4 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | Confederations Cup | 1997 | 360 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | Copa America | 1997 | 432 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1997 | 529 |
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| Valencia | Appearances | Spanish La Liga | 1996-1997 | 5 |
| Valencia | Goals | Spanish La Liga | 1996-1997 | 4 |
| Valencia | Mins Played | Spanish La Liga | 1996-1997 | 450 |
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| Barcelona | Appearances | Spanish La Liga | 1994-1995 | 13 |
| Barcelona | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1994-1995 | 5 |
| Barcelona | Assists | UEFA Champions League | 1994-1995 | 1 |
| Barcelona | Goals | Spanish La Liga | 1994-1995 | 4 |
| Barcelona | Goals | UEFA Champions League | 1994-1995 | 3 |
| Barcelona | Mins Played | Spanish La Liga | 1994-1995 | 1,071 |
| Barcelona | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1994-1995 | 450 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1994 | 1 |
| Brazil | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 1994 | 7 |
| Brazil | Assists | FIFA World Cup | 1994 | 3 |
| Brazil | Goals | FIFA World Cup | 1994 | 5 |
| Brazil | Goals | International Friendlies | 1994 | 1 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1994 | 90 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 1994 | 660 |
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| Barcelona | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1993-1994 | 10 |
| Barcelona | Appearances | Copa del Rey | 1993-1994 | 2 |
| Barcelona | Appearances | Spanish La Liga | 1993-1994 | 33 |
| Barcelona | Assists | Spanish La Liga | 1993-1994 | 1 |
| Barcelona | Assists | UEFA Champions League | 1993-1994 | 1 |
| Barcelona | Goals | Spanish La Liga | 1993-1994 | 30 |
| Barcelona | Goals | UEFA Champions League | 1993-1994 | 2 |
| Barcelona | Mins Played | Copa del Rey | 1993-1994 | 74 |
| Barcelona | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1993-1994 | 900 |
| Barcelona | Mins Played | Spanish La Liga | 1993-1994 | 2,756 |
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| Barcelona | Appearances | Supercopa de Espana | 1993 | 2 |
| Brazil | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 1993 | 1 |
| Brazil | Goals | FIFA World Cup | 1993 | 2 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 1993 | 90 |
| Barcelona | Mins Played | Supercopa de Espana | 1993 | 180 |
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| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1992-1993 | 9 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1992-1993 | 3 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | Dutch Eredivisie | 1992-1993 | 26 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Assists | UEFA Champions League | 1992-1993 | 1 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Assists | Dutch Eredivisie | 1992-1993 | 3 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | UEFA Champions League | 1992-1993 | 7 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1992-1993 | 3 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | Dutch Eredivisie | 1992-1993 | 22 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1992-1993 | 788 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1992-1993 | 300 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | Dutch Eredivisie | 1992-1993 | 2,244 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1992 | 2 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1992 | 88 |
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| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1991-1992 | 2 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1991-1992 | 1 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | Dutch Eredivisie | 1991-1992 | 14 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Assists | Dutch Eredivisie | 1991-1992 | 6 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | Dutch Eredivisie | 1991-1992 | 9 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1991-1992 | 22 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | Dutch Eredivisie | 1991-1992 | 1,224 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1991-1992 | 107 |
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| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | Dutch Eredivisie | 1990-1991 | 25 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | UEFA Cup | 1990-1991 | 2 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1990-1991 | 3 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Assists | Dutch Eredivisie | 1990-1991 | 4 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Assists | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1990-1991 | 1 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1990-1991 | 5 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | Dutch Eredivisie | 1990-1991 | 25 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | UEFA Cup | 1990-1991 | 180 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1990-1991 | 300 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | Dutch Eredivisie | 1990-1991 | 1,999 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 1990 | 1 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 1990 | 65 |
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| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1989-1990 | 3 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1989-1990 | 4 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | Dutch Eredivisie | 1989-1990 | 20 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Assists | Dutch Eredivisie | 1989-1990 | 3 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Assists | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1989-1990 | 1 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | Dutch Eredivisie | 1989-1990 | 23 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1989-1990 | 2 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | UEFA Champions League | 1989-1990 | 6 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | Dutch Eredivisie | 1989-1990 | 1,555 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1989-1990 | 344 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1989-1990 | 270 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | Copa America | 1989 | 6 |
| Brazil | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 1989 | 2 |
| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1989 | 2 |
| Brazil | Goals | Copa America | 1989 | 3 |
| Brazil | Goals | FIFA World Cup | 1989 | 1 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 1989 | 92 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1989 | 133 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | Copa America | 1989 | 474 |
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| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | Dutch Eredivisie | 1988-1989 | 24 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1988-1989 | 2 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1988-1989 | 5 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Assists | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1988-1989 | 2 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Assists | Dutch Eredivisie | 1988-1989 | 1 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1988-1989 | 4 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | Dutch Eredivisie | 1988-1989 | 19 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | UEFA Champions League | 1988-1989 | 2 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1988-1989 | 210 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1988-1989 | 360 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | Dutch Eredivisie | 1988-1989 | 1,904 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1988 | 7 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | UEFA Super Cup | 1988 | 2 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | FIFA Club World Cup | 1988 | 1 |
| Brazil | Goals | International Friendlies | 1988 | 2 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | FIFA Club World Cup | 1988 | 1 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1988 | 618 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | UEFA Super Cup | 1988 | 180 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | FIFA Club World Cup | 1988 | 120 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1987 | 1 |
| Brazil | Appearances | Copa America | 1987 | 2 |
| Brazil | Goals | Copa America | 1987 | 1 |
| Brazil | Goals | International Friendlies | 1987 | 2 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | Copa America | 1987 | 61 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1987 | 90 |
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