On the pitch they called him “Shorty” — a diminutive soccer legend who rose from the slums of northern Rio to become a giant of Brazil’s “beautiful game.”
Now, the 1.65m former Barcelona and Brazil striker is pushing for a new, unexpected title: Romario, member of parliament (MP).
The third-highest scorer in the history of Brazilian international soccer, known more for his deadly touch in front of goal than his views on economic policy, hopes to become one of Brazil’s 513 federal deputies in October’s elections.
“On the pitch I was one of the best in my position,” Romario said last week during a visit to Brazil’s Congress with members of his latest team, the Brazilian Socialist Party. “I will try to be one of the best here too.”
Romario de Souza Faria, better known as just Romario, is one of several Brazilian soccer stars hoping to swap pitches for politics in the coming elections. While the involvement of ex-soccer players in politics is not unprecedented, a record number of Brazilian craques, or stars, are expected to run for office this year.
Other candidates reportedly include the former Corinthians idol Marcelinho Carioca, who is running for the lower house on an education ticket, the Atletico Mineiro striker Marques, who intends to run for the Brazilian Labour Party in Belo Horizonte after hanging up his boots later this month, and the former Brazil stars Edmundo and Vampeta.
The Brazilian press has reacted to the players’ candidacies with a strong dose of irony and Romario has come in for particular flak.
“[Romario’s] adhesion to the Socialist party took place one month after his [seafront] penthouse was auctioned ... in order to pay debts with neighbors,” the weekly news magazine Epoca said, suggesting Romario was more interested in the MP’s salary of about 8,000 real (US$4,400) a month than furthering issues such as tax or electoral reform.
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