A Legend Retires: Romario

B&W · 15 Apr 2008 at 13:55

I usually don't post much in here but felt I had to post this.

Former Brazil striker Romario has announced his retirement from football at the age of 42.

"Officially I'm not playing any more. I've stopped," he said. "My time is up. Everything has been a lot of fun."

The 1994 World Player of the Year scored more than 1,000 goals, including 56 in 73 appearances for his country, and also won the 1994 World Cup.

At the age of 39 he bagged 22 goals to finish as the Brazilian championship's leading goalscorer.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7347993.stm

Quality player, loved it when he battered man yoo.

Forward to 1:30 lol

Morba · 15 Apr 2008 at 13:55

He was excellent :]

JohnnyG · 15 Apr 2008 at 14:00

A great player no doubt but didn't his '1000 goals' include ones he scored on the beach and against walls and stuff when he was a kid plus plenty of other non competitive ones?

B&W · 15 Apr 2008 at 14:09

yeah I think he later admitted to that.

Last May, Romario scored what he claimed was his 1,000th goal but admitted that many of these were scored in friendlies, youth and testimonial games.

Gilly · 15 Apr 2008 at 14:12

JohnnyG said:
A great player no doubt but didn't his '1000 goals' include ones he scored on the beach and against walls and stuff when he was a kid plus plenty of other non competitive ones?

In that case I can't be far off, counting all 5-a-side and jumpers for goalposts goals

Haiku · 15 Apr 2008 at 14:13

Some of the goals he included were before he even turned professional. The whole '1,000 goals scored' claim is a bit vain but he was undoubtedly a brilliant goalscorer.

Here is a good article about him by Tim Vickery:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6517085.stm

sandy10 · 15 Apr 2008 at 18:50

An absolutely phenominal finisher.

Seems strange that a player of his ability only played for around 4 seasons in one of Europe's "big leagues".

His international strike-rate was also exemplorary in the modern game.

sandy10 · 15 Apr 2008 at 18:54

B&W said:
Quality player, loved it when he battered man yoo.

Reminded me of this:

Silvestre's skin still somewhere in Rio....awesome from the Animal!

Shamikebab · 15 Apr 2008 at 19:01

That was an amazing bit of skill. I remember it well unfortunately.

nft_99 · 15 Apr 2008 at 19:03

superb finisher

saw him play couple of times him and stoichkov for barca were fantastic!

dannyjo22 · 15 Apr 2008 at 19:07

It was the quickness of his turn and roll round a defender that always impressed me. Great player. 56 in 73 for Brazil is a awesome stat.

nikebee · 15 Apr 2008 at 19:20

sandy10 said:
Reminded me of this:

Silvestre's skin still somewhere in Rio....awesome from the Animal!

GoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL

haha

bigmouse64 · 15 Apr 2008 at 21:17

He was amazing, in 1994 I think. I didn't watch it at the time, but looking back, best in the world at one time, surely?

NokkonWud · 16 Apr 2008 at 02:20

sandy10 said:
Reminded me of this:

Silvestre's skin still somewhere in Rio....awesome from the Animal!

Interesting to see Juninho played for Vasco then, and still sports the same haircut today.

sandy10 · 16 Apr 2008 at 18:49

Do you remember the chap Montecinos, the Chilean who played for Necaxa with the lightning strikes dyed into his hair? He looked awesome vs Man Utd in that tournament, with Aguinaga trotting about in the middle.

Yas786 · 16 Apr 2008 at 20:28

Amazing player with a natural gift to score...i think out of all the brazilian players i have seen come and go...he would definitely be my number one.

The guy was simply a class act.

Greenlizard0 · 16 Apr 2008 at 20:56

NokkonWud said:
Interesting to see Juninho played for Vasco then, and still sports the same haircut today.

After the first goal celebrating with him? I thought for a second there it was Kaka lol

sunnysingh · 21 Apr 2008 at 19:55

brilliant