BRAZIL: SOCCER - A life-size bronze statue of Brazil's former striker Romario will be placed under the scoreboard of Sao Januario stadium, where the player recently scored his thousandth goal

Record ID: 1484139

  • Title: BRAZIL: SOCCER - A life-size bronze statue of Brazil's former striker Romario will be placed under the scoreboard of Sao Januario stadium, where the player recently scored his thousandth goal
  • Date: 24th May 2007
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (MAY 22, 2007) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF SCULPTOR'S WORKSHOP
  • Embargoed: 8th June 2007 11:29
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA4LZB8VPF3QE2PO8EPU16ZPX6C
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: A life-size bronze statue of Brazil's former striker Romario will be placed under the scoreboard of Sao Januario stadium, where the player recently scored his thousandth goal. Brazil's former striker Romario has earned a special spot under the scoreboard inside Vasco's Sao Januario stadium, where he scored the 1,000th goal of his career on Sunday (May 20).
    A real-size bronze statue of the player is being sculpted by artist Osorio Correa in a workshop next to a foundry in Rio de Janeiro, where other soccer legends like Didi and Preguinho have also been reproduced.
    Correa said he is a big fan of Romario's because he has the charisma of players like Pele and Garrincha.
    "Romario, I'm a fan of his. What Brazilian isn't a fan Romario? He achieved a charisma, like Pele's, Garrincha's, all of them. He doesn't have enemies, everyone likes Romario," he said after retouching the statue.
    Romario was born in Rio de Janeiro on Jan. 30, 1966 and made a total of 73 appearances for Brazil, scoring 56 goals. His debut was against Ireland on May 23, 1987 and he capped his final appearance against Guatemala in Oct. 2005 with a goal.
    His professional debut was for Vasco da Gama against Coritiba in the Brazilian championship in June 1985. Romario has also played for PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Valencia and for Vasco's Rio de Janeiro rivals Flamengo and Fluminense.
    Osorio Correa said he was happy he had enough time to work on the sculpture.
    The player's statue will cost 20 thousand reais (about U$10,000) and will be unveiled officially in about two weeks, when Vasco will play Gremio in Sao Januario as part of the Brazilian championship.
    Although Romario admits his tally includes goals scored in youth team, friendly and testimonial games, this failed to dampen the celebrations. Even President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called Romario to congratulate him.
    Vasco made an official shirt to celebrate the player's thousandth goal and he seems to have received the approval from soccer fans around the country, although many questioned the validity of his tally.
    Seventy-seven of Romario's goals were scored at youth team level, including seven when he was playing for Olaria as a 13-year-old in the infants category.
    Fan Jose Coelho said Romario is a superb player, but he still thinks Pele is the king.
    "Romario is an extraordinary player, but Pele is still Pele, he's the king," he said as he played soccer with friends.
    Connections with Brazilian soccer legend Pele also added a spark to the striker's thousandth goal, but many criticized Romario for having tried to mock the king of soccer.
    Another fan Ronaldo Santos agreed with his teammate and said Pele comes before Romario.
    "Pele first, Romario second and Maradona in third," he said.
    Pele also scored his 1,000th from a penalty for Santos against Vasco da Gama in 1969.
    Romario had been stuck on 999 goals for six weeks and three matches, during which Vasco were knocked out of two competitions and coach Renato Portaluppi was fired.
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