Romario: the day he reached a thousand goals at the age of 41 and the testimony of 3 Peruvians who faced him

“When I was born, God pointed his finger and said: that is it”summarizes Romario -with his unique style- his enormous worldwide success. He was privileged. An authentic one. He scored goals everywhere. In fact, when the popular ‘Baixinho’ needed one of those “breaks” to party in his country, the goal was his main refuge. There wasn’t much to blame him for. He did his job on the court and he earned the rest by hand. His romance with the goal was so immense that exactly 15 years ago he celebrated the thousand goals in his career. And until now he is remembered.

facing the bow, Romario He always showed himself as a prodigious man. “If you score two goals tomorrow, I will give you two more days of party”he was once challenged by Johan Cruyff, his coach at Barcelona in 1993. The next day, the Brazilian legend scored his brace in the first half, approached the Dutchman and asked for his change. “Technician, my plane leaves in an hour”Told him.

That, in short, was Romarioa footballer who was criticized a lot for his inevitable indiscipline, the one who was willing to miss training sessions before the Rio de Janeiro carnivals, but who on the pitch was always a guarantee of goals for any team.

“Inside the area I was much better than Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, it is my thought and I say it with great humility”ensures the same Romario. And he doesn’t doubt it, nor do those who had to deal with his talent.

And it is that few can presume to have reached the 1,000 goals. Pelé scored 1,282 goals, for example, while Arthur Friedenreich scored 1,329. All three Brazilians. Of course, FIFA does not count many of those goals. A Romario he is credited with 768 official conquests in his career. But, on personal account, he reached four figures.

the thousand goal

Having already shone at PSV, Barcelona, ​​Valencia and Flamengo, ‘O Baixo’ returned to the team with which he made his debut to extend his legend: Vasco da Gama. He was already 41 years old, but his ambition to reach 1,000 goals, like Pelé, remained intact beyond his age.

In 2007, Romario announced many times the arrival of the thousandth goal of his career. While the statisticians tried to understand that unimaginable figure, the Brazilian crack was anxious for a long time to realize his goal. And he did it.

It was a May 20, like today, but 15 years ago. In a Brazilian league match between Vasco da Gama and Sport Club do Recife, the remembered ‘Baixinho’ saw a great opportunity to reach four figures from the penalty spot and he didn’t waste it. He kicked with the quality that characterizes him and celebrated emotionally with his teammates.

Romario, world champion with Brazil in 1994, could not contain his emotion, nor could those who witnessed his historic four-figure goal live. The game had to be suspended for a few minutes, as the entire stadium surrendered to pay tribute to the Brazilian legend and the media did the same, pointing their cameras and microphones at him.

Almost a month later, Chapulín —as Diego Maradona called him— shone with a double in a victory over Gremio to close his historic tally with 1,002 goals, which included conquests in friendly matches, minor categories and others. FIFA, officially, calculates 234 goals less than the Brazilian boasts, but he keeps the personal figure that he handles.

“I didn’t deserve everything I achieved. I never behaved like a professional, I was never an athlete. I was a soccer player, but I never slept as I should, I didn’t eat like an athlete, I was always late, I didn’t train thoroughly every day, nor did I respect breaks, but I scored a thousand and two goals.”expressed Romario in an interview for L’Equipe.

Beyond the goals that do not recognize him, the name of the Brazilian striker – without a doubt – is inscribed in the most glorious pages of football. He is the only player in the history of football who has been a scorer 14 times in first division tournaments and is one of the few who has celebrated more than 1,000 goals in his entire career. His legend will continue from generation to generation.

What was it like facing him?

Romario It was part of the golden age of Brazil. In addition to raising a world Cup After a 24-year drought in 1994, establishing himself as the best player in the tournament and one of the top scorers, he also won two Copa América (1989 and 1997) and the 1997 Confederations Cup with the ‘Canarinha’.

In that successful step with his team, the Brazilian legend was the protagonist in three matches against the Peruvian team. But not only on those occasions was there a crossover with national soccer players.

The first time against Peru was in the group stage of the America’s Cup 1989. The fearsome ‘Scratch’ was measured against ‘Blanquirroja’ and Romário, 23 years old at the time, could not score that day. The match ended 0-0 at the Fonte Nova Stadium, a result that did not prevent Brazil from later winning.

“The most difficult striker I had to score was Romario. I’ve always considered him a guy way above the level.”assures with much admiration Percy Olivaresstarting side in that draw, who not only had the opportunity to face the Brazilian in the national team, but also in Spain.

When ‘Zancudo’ played for Tenerife, he met ‘Chapulín’ (Barcelona) twice on the field. Once it was at the Camp Nou (1-0 loss) and the other in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (2-3 loss with a double by Romario). The task of marking it has been extremely difficult,

“I remember him being confident that I didn’t see anyone. He knew and we all knew that at some point he was going to score a goal. To that was added that change of rhythm so usual in him, which was not normal. He captured everyone’s attention. It was astonishing”praises Percy.

A very special anecdote that recalls olive groves it’s the promise you made Romario before playing his first LaLiga season (1993/94). The Brazilian guaranteed that he would score 30 goals with the Barça club and he finally fulfilled it.

“I saw the phenomenon that was Romario in Spain. I remember very clearly that when we had to go on a trip to play somewhere else, we were attentive to what Romario had said. He said that he was going to score 30 goals. Against Valladolid it was our last LaLiga game and the whole country was waiting to see if Romario complied or not. He was one goal away from fulfilling his promise and he did it.”Percy recalls.

Picking up the thread of the verdeamarelho scorer against the Peruvian team, Romario played a match against Peru again for the semifinals of the America Cup 1997. The ‘Blanquirroja’, after a great campaign -they eliminated Argentina in the quarterfinals-, dreamed of winning the tournament, but Brazil sentenced their elimination with an impressive 7-0, in which the ‘Chapulín’ was author of two goals.

“Romário has always been an elite player. He has played for Barcelona and other big name teams. He was a net goalscorer. He had something characteristic, that defenders always caught us off guard. One of his characteristics was to score the ball and score those goals that normally weren’t seen and ‘Chapulín’ did ”recalls Miguel Rebosio, our defender in that game, who was in the early years of his career.

“Before the pandemic, in 2019, I had the opportunity to see Romário in another facet, more political. I dared to tell him that we faced each other in that Copa América and he told me ‘well, excuse me haha’ ”he adds between laughs.

Already in 2001, in a match for the World Cup Qualifiers the following year, the Peruvian defenders had to deal again with the quality of Romario. ‘O Baixo’ was the captain in that match and scored the only goal of his team for the final 1-1 match in Sao Paulo. Juan Pajuelo scored the ‘Blanquirroja’ goal that time.

“It wasn’t just Romário, it was a whole team. But obviously the figure at that time was the feared duo ‘Ro-Ro’, Romário and Ronaldo (who did not play that match). You could control him at times, but he had his techniques to get away ”Rebosio points out.

That match was also marked in Miguel Miranda, may he rest in peace. The Peruvian exporter told this newspaper, two years ago, the pleasant experience of successfully taking care of his goal, having a crack like ‘Chapulín’ at the helm.

“Of the times that I faced Brazil, I prefer the 1-1 in Morumbí. I remember that match a lot because I had to face Romario and I had to do things very well. The motivation and concentration I had for that match was unique. It’s the match I remember the most.”Miranda narrated.

For its part, Percy Olivares remember that in that clash there was no special order to stop Romario, but he put into practice what he learned in Tenerife to be able, if he wants, to neutralize the Brazilian captain in some way.

“At that time, playing with Brazil was a lost game, not because we thought so, but because in all of South America people thought that way, felt like that and happened like that. In that 1-1 there was no indication to mark Romario. But when he played in Tenerife and we played against Barcelona, ​​they told us ‘don’t lose focus on Romario’. I think that was the key for all of us who faced him “points out the ‘Zancudo.