Source: Xinhuanet

05-22-2007 16:37

Romario de Souza of Vasco da Gama keeps his eyes on the ball during their Brazilian championship soccer match against Sport-PE at Sao Januario stadium in Rio de Janeiro May 20, 2007.(Xinhua Photo)

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian Football Federation gave striker Romario a medal on Monday for scoring his 1,000th goal, identical to the medal given to Pele, the only other Brazilian to score 1,000 professional goals.

"The Federation is honored to be able to pay homage to a player as important as Romario has been for the game and for the national team," President of the Federation Ricardo Teixeira said in a statement published on the body's website. Romario will also receive a national team T-shirt with the number 1,000.

Teixeira said he felt a special affection for Romario because in 1989 Brazil had not won the Copa America but that in that year, the same year that Teixeira became Federation president, Romario scored the winning goal in the Copa.

In 1994, after 24 years without a Cup Brazil won their fourth World Cup with a great deal of help from Romario, known to fans as Shorty.

Dunga, the current manager of the Brazil national team, who was part of the same 1994 squad, said he was pleased that Romario had achieved the feat.

"I am happy to have been part of the same generation as a player who has made history in achieving a target only ever reached by one other Brazilian".

Pele, who Brazilians call the king of football, reached the 1,000 goal target in 1969.