Thanks Romario!!!!

Playing at the age of 42 is not a usual thing in football world. Very few people achieved that and Romario, who hanged his boots yesterday, reached that position. Thank you Romario…

We still remember 1992 World Cup in United States, your quick turn and attempt for a goal against powerful AC Milan in the European Cup final, in which your Barcelona - Johan Cryuff’s dream team -lost. Romario achieved everything in his career. He was the key figure in the world cup winning team, he was in the league winning team in Spain, he played for the best teams in Europe and Brazil.

Yes, this pocket dynamo has the ability to attract all kinds of controversies along with him. He was kicked out of the team for different reasons, more to do nothing with football and his ability. Still his achievement is incredible.

In present football, it is very difficult to complete 10 successful years in top form. He surpassed 20 years. Remember, many fine footballers were forced to stop their career before the reached the age of 30. Reasons vary, but playing after 30 is more taxing in football, especially in top form and in top team. Romario was a striker, who generally finishes their career earlier than midfielders and defenders or will move to less known clubs to continue. Romario also has gone through that patch but the year 2005 was furitful and he scored 22 times for Vasco, the club where he started his career, and ended up as the top scorer of the season.

He was in the Brazilian World cup team of 1990 but failed to impress his manager. 1994, it was he who did the maximum for his team to achieve the ultimate glory in football. Injury forced him to move out from 1998 world cup team and tussle between manager (Scolari) and player put him out of the team from 2002 team. Interestingly, he was touching 40 during 2006 world cup, there were enough supports for Romario to include in the Brazil team. His top scoring form of 2005 made such an impact among the supporters.

There was a story about the talent hunt of Barcelona. Johan Cryuff was the manager and he was looking for two players who should have some special abilities. He was looking for a player who have incredible finishing ability and can terrorize the opponents in their penalty box. Another one, he was looking for, was a player who can hit from any angle with leather dead ball skills. He found Romario in the first category who can score goal from a half chance. Another player who proved his skills was Hristo Stoichkov, who proved it in 1998 world cup against Germany.

Very few players played in such form in late 30s and early 40s. Teddy Sheringham struggled to keep his form till 40 but he played in Premier League teams and i remember Roger Milla, who did a remarkable job at his late 30 and early 40s when he played in 1990 and 1994 world cups. But, in consistency, Romario stands miles ahead of them. Good bye Romario.