RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — World Cup winner Romario has been elected to Brazil’s lower house of Congress.
Romario was elected with nearly 150,000 votes in his first attempt at running for public office since retiring from soccer in 2008. He was the sixth-most voted for candidate in Rio de Janeiro state.
The 44-year-old Romario has promised to focus on improving conditions for many of Rio de Janeiro’s poor children. He joined the Brazilian Socialist Party last year.
A former Barcelona striker, Romario led Brazil to the 1994 World Cup title and was voted the world’s best player that year. He scored 55 goals in 70 appearances for his country.
Bebeto, Romario’s teammate in Brazil’s 1994 squad, was also elected Sunday, to Rio’s state Congress.
