Romário de Souza Faria, known simply as Romário, is a Brazilian politician and former professional footballer renowned for his clinical finishing and prolific goal-scoring career. Born on 29 January 1966, Romário is considered one of the greatest players of all time, with achievements spanning both football and politics.
Main Milestones
Birth
29 January 1966
Romário de Souza Faria was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to parents Edevair de Souza Faria and Manuela Ladislau Faria. His early life in Villa Pena, a Rio de Janeiro suburb, laid the foundation for his future football career.
Signing with Vasco da Gama
1985
After impressing in a friendly match against Vasco da Gama, scoring four times, Romário was signed by the club. He won two state championships with Vasco and scored 73 goals in 123 matches over four seasons.
Transfer to PSV Eindhoven
1988
Romário moved to PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, where he became a key player, helping the club win three Eredivisie championships and scoring 165 goals in 167 games over five seasons.
Joining FC Barcelona
1993
Romário joined FC Barcelona, becoming part of Johan Cruyff's 'Dream Team' and forming a successful 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.
FIFA World Cup Triumph
1994
Romário starred for Brazil in their 1994 FIFA World Cup victory, receiving the Golden Ball as player of the tournament and being named FIFA World Player of the Year.
Brazilian League Title with Vasco da Gama
2000
Romário won the Brazilian league title with Vasco da Gama and was top scorer three times in the league, solidifying his status as one of Brazil's greatest strikers.
Retirement from Football
2008
Romário retired from professional football, concluding a career that saw him score over 700 goals and become one of the few players to score at least 100 goals for three clubs.
Entry into Politics
2010
Romário was elected deputy for the Brazilian Socialist Party, marking the beginning of his political career. He later became senator in 2014 and switched parties to Podemos in 2017 and then to the Liberal Party in 2021.
Election to the Senate
2014
Romário was elected to the Brazilian Senate with the most votes received ever by a candidate representing the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Switch to the Liberal Party
2021
Romário switched parties again, joining the Liberal Party, and publicly endorsed President Jair Bolsonaro, criticizing the previous administration of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
