born January 29, 1966 in Rio de Janeiro, better known simply as Romário, is a former Brazilian football centre forward who helped the Brazil national team win the 1994 FIFA World Cup and has been one of the most prolific strikers in the world since the 1990s, having had successful tenures with European clubs PSV Eindhoven and FC Barcelona, and in Brazil with Flamengo, Fluminense and Vasco da Gama before retiring in 2008. His professional career extended past age 40, an age by which most professional footballers have retired. He officially announced his retirement from profesional football on April 15th 2008 at the age of 42.

He was selected the FIFA World Player of the Year and won the World Cup Golden Ball in 1994 and named as one of the Top 125 greatest living footballers as part of FIFA's 100th anniversary celebration.