How many goals does Romário have? Is he one of the best strikers from Brazil?

How many goals does Romário have? Is he one of the best strikers from Brazil?

Kenneth Mwenda
May 26, 2024 at 11:36 PM
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How many goals does Romário have? Romário de Souza Faria is a legendary Brazilian footballer and one of the most prolific strikers in football history. He was recognised for his goalscoring prowess and dribbling skills. Discover more about the legend here and his goals.

Romario stats
Romario in action for Barcelona (L) on November 24, 1993. On the right is him during the Brazilian national team match on 25th March 1998. Photo: Phil O'Brien, Ruediger Fessel (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Table of Сontents:

Romário's career lasted more than 20 years, leaving a legacy of his positive influence on this beautiful game. Sports Brief digs in from different sources to reveal Romario's goals and how he conquered the world.

Profile summary

Full name

Romário de Souza Faria

Date of birth

January 29, 1966

Place of birth

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Age

58 (as of May 2024)

Nationality

Brazilian

Marital status

Divorced

Ex-wives

Mônica Santoro, Isabelle Bittencourt

Kids

4

Currently dating

Maria Geusiane Santos

Position

Forward

Clubs played for

Vasco da Gama, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Flamengo, Al-Sadd, Valencia, Fluminense, Miami FC, Adelaide United

International career

Won the 1994 FIFA World Cup, scored 55 goals in 70 caps

Goal-scoring record

Scored over 1,000 career goals, including official, friendly, and unofficial matches

Social media

Instagram

How many goals does Romário have?

Romário's goal record has stirred debate on whether they were on official or unofficial games. According to Barcelona's website, the legendary striker bagged 768 goals in official matches during his club and national team career. The number is reportedly more than what Bican, Pele, Puskas, and Müler achieved in official games.

The Barca legend is believed to have scored over 1,000 goals in official and unofficial games. He ranks fourth behind Pelé, Ronaldo, and Neymar in terms of the goals scored for the Brazilian national team.

Romário's 1,000th goal

Romário scored his 1000th goal on May 20, 2007, when he converted a penalty against Sport Recife while playing for Vasco da Gama. The Brazilian media said he became one of the few professional footballers in history (like Pelé, Puskás, Friedenreich, and Binder) to do this.

The 1000th goal includes those scored in friendlies, youth matches, and the replayed ones. Romário had earlier stated that he would retire after reaching this milestone.

Romário's club stats and career

Facts about Romario
Romário of Brazil during a game against Sweden in the World Cup semi-final at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California on July 13, 1994. Photo: Mike Powell (modified by author)
Source: Original

Romário spent his childhood in Villa Pena, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. He had never considered playing professional sports before his father took him to watch a football game at Olaria. When he was 13 years old, he signed up for Olaria's youth team, where he quickly improved his skills.

During a friendly match against Vasco da Gama, he scored four goals, which impressed Vasco so much that they decided to buy him in 1985. In his first tenure with the club, Romário won two state championships between 1985 and 1988.

At the 1988 Olympics held in Seoul, where he represented Brazil in their U-23 squad, he emerged as the tournament's top scorer thus far. He also helped his nation win silver after losing 2-1 against Russia (former Soviet Union) during the final.

When did Romário de Souza join PSV Eindhoven?

Romário moved to PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands in 1988 from Vasco de Gama. He received praise from his then-coach at PSV, Guus Hiddink, who coached him in his first three seasons. Hiddink told Talk Sport,

"He is the most interesting player I have worked with so far. If he saw that I was a bit more nervous than usual ahead of a big game, he would come to me and say, take it easy, coach. I am going to score, and we are going to win."

How many goals did he score at PSV Eindhoven?

In that first season, Romário scored 26 goals in 34 appearances and managed 61 in 55 games in the next two years. He left PSV having bagged 127 goals in 142 appearances within five seasons.

Romário de Souza's stats at Barcelona

Romário at Barcelona
Romário of Barcelona celebrates after scoring against Manchester United on October 19, 1994. Photo: Paul Marriott
Source: Getty Images

He joined FC Barcelona in 1993 during Johan Cruyff's "Dream Team." His connection with Hristo Stoichkov up front was among the best duos ever. Romário once had one of his greatest matches, netting three times when Barcelona thrashed Real Madrid 5-0 at Camp Nou in an el Clasico encounter.

The Barca legend scored 39 goals in 66 games in two seasons with the Catalans. He helped the club win La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup before departing for Brazil.

Later career

Romário joined Flamengo in 1995 and spent five years there. He also played for Valencia, Flamengo, Fluminense, Al-Sadd, Miami FC, Adelaide United, and América Río.

He led Vasco da Gama to the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship final, the Copa Mercosur, and the Brazilian league. The former striker was named South American and Brazilian Footballer of the Year. He was the top scorer in the 2005 Brazilian Championship while playing for Vasco da Gama.

When did he join Miami FC?

In 2006, Romário joined Miami FC and scored 19 goals. He also briefly played for Tupi, but the Brazilian Football Confederation prevented him from participating. During the same year, he had a short spell with Adelaide United in Australia.

Romario in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Romario practising with Team Vasco in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 30, 2007. Photo: CityFiles
Source: Getty Images

Romário de Souza's international career stats

Romário won a silver medal in the 1988 Olympic Games, scoring seven goals in seven matches. He also emerged as the hero of the 1989 Copa América when his goal against Uruguay sealed Brazil's victory. The legendary forward boasts 55 goals from 70 caps for his national team.

Which World Cups did he play?

Romario appeared in both the 1990 and 1994 FIFA World Cups. He won the 1994 edition, finishing as the top scorer with five goals, winning the Golden Ball.

The striker missed the 1998 and 2002 World Cups because of injuries and off-field problems despite his form. He played his last game for Brazil in 2005, during a 3-0 victory over Guatemala, where he netted once.

Romário de Souza's trophies

Many remember Romário for his goalscoring genius, but he also lifted numerous titles at club and international levels. Some of his notable trophies include:

International trophies

1988 Olympic Silver Medal (Seoul)

1989 Copa América

1994 FIFA World Cup

1997 Copa América

1997 FIFA Confederations Cup

Vasco da Gama

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (1987, 1988, 2000)

Copa Mercosur (2000)

PSV Eindhoven

Eredivisie (1988-89, 1990-91, 1991-92)

KNVB Cup (1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91)

Johan Cruyff Shield (1992, 1993)

Barcelona

La Liga (1993-94)

Supercopa de España (1994)

Flamengo

Campeonato Carioca (1996, 1999)

Copa Mercosur (1999)

Individual honours

FIFA World Player of the Year (1994)

FIFA World Cup Golden Ball (1994)

South American Footballer of the Year (2000)

Brazilian Footballer of the Year (2000)

Eredivisie Top Scorer (1988-89, 1989-90)

La Liga Top Scorer (1993-94)

Romário's return to action with America after 15 years

In April 2024, at 58, the legendary striker decided to return from retirement to play for America. According to Al Jazeera, the former player officially registered to play the club in the second division of the Rio State Championship. His son Romarinho also plays for the club.

"I’m ready to try to give my beloved America a little help and fighting to return to the top flight. Thank you everyone for your support!"

Romario at Giulite Coutinho Stadium
Romario after a match between America RJ and Petropolis as part of the Cariocao Serie A2 2024 at Giulite Coutinho Stadium on May 18, 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: Buda Mendes
Source: Getty Images

Trivia

Romário's legacy goes beyond the soccer field; his vibrant character and exceptional accomplishments have made him an intriguing personality in sports worldwide. Here are some of his frequently asked questions.

What is Romário doing now?

The legendary Brazilian striker came out of retirement to play for America in April 2024. He has been the club's president since January 2024. Romario also entered politics in Brazil. He was elected to the Senate in 2015 and re-elected in 2022.

Has Romário ever won the Ballon d'Or?

Romário never won the Ballon d'Or. However, in 1994, he won the FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Did Romário win a World Cup?

Romário won the FIFA World Cup with Brazil in 1994. He was a crucial player for the Brazilian team during the tournament held in the United States.

Final word

Romário had an undeniable impact on football. So, how many goals does Romário have? The Brazilian scored over 1,000 goals in official and unofficial games. His fantastic goalscoring abilities and talent made him a legend and a role model to many.

READ ALSO: A ranked list of the 10 best Brazilian soccer players of all time

Sports Brief published an article about the 10 best Brazilian soccer players ever. Brazil is home to some of the world's most talented football players. The country has produced exceptionally talented footballers, from Pele to Neymar. Click the above link to read more!

Authors
Kenneth Mwenda photo
Kenneth Mwenda
Kenneth Mwenda is a business and sports writer with over five years of experience. At Sportsbrief, he contributes to writing biographies and listicles.