RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP)—Soccer star Romario announced his retirement Friday, ending two decades at the pinnacle of Brazil’s national sport.
The 42-year-old striker told Rio’s O Dia newspaper that he was out of shape and physically unable to return after months of inactivity.
“I’ve stopped playing. I can’t do it any more. I haven’t played since November,” Romario said.
Without the speed and endurance that once were his hallmarks, Romario is a shadow of the scorer who starred for PSV Eindhoven and FC Barcelona and led Brazil to its fourth World Cup title in 1994, when he was named FIFA’s player of the year.
Last year, Romario scored what he claimed was his 1,000th career goal, though FIFA officially gave him a much lower total. Romario counted 71 goals scored in amateur games, scrimmages and unofficial matches against small clubs. He has had to revise his tally downward several times after it was revealed that some of the goals he counted were scored in matches that never happened, or in games that ended 0-0.
The only player who officially reached 1,000 goals was another Brazilian, Pele.
As player-coach of Vasco da Gama, Romario said last year he would end his 23-year career when he was suspended for four months for drug use. A court overturned that suspension in February, leading to speculation he could return to Vasco or former club Flamengo.
But Romario said he planned to travel with his family in the Caribbean and was interested only in a position promoting the 2014 World Cup, which will be held in Brazil.
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