Legendary Brazilian striker Romario scored great goals for fun.
Over a highly-prolific career he found the net an incredible 755 times for both club and country. Romario was capable of scoring in a variety of innovative and spectacular ways from simple toe-poked finishes to thunderous volleys. But which of his numerous world class strikes stood out from the rest?
Here’s Romario’s top 10 greatest goals
10. Brazil vs South Africa – Friendly Match (1997)
Brazil faced South Africa during a friendly match in the wake of their 1997 Copa America triumph.
With the game still poised at 0-0, Romario opened the scoring, making a run and managing to stay onside as the ball was slotted into his path. When the opposing goalkeeper began to advance, Romario chipped the ball firmly into the air and it floated over Andre Arendse into the net, the Brazilians going on to win 2-1.
9. Brazil vs Uruguay – World Cup Qualifier (1993)
In a bid to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the United States, Brazil went head to head with South American rivals Uruguay.
The Brazilians already held a 1-0 lead when Romario met a pass and ran through on goal from around forty yards out. He initially took a very heavy touch that saw the ball skew towards the right touchline but Romario sprinted after it and slotted home from the tightest of angles.
8. Brazil vs Mexico – Friendly Match (2001)
In 2001, Mexico faced off against Brazil in a hotly contested friendly match, packed with intense action and bags of goals.
The Mexicans were ahead 3-2, when into the second half, the ball found its way to the left wing. A whipped cross was fired across the front post and there was Romario, making contact with the outside of his right boot and the ball sailing over the Mexico keeper into the top corner.
7. Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid – La Liga (1993)
In October 1993, Barcelona travelled to the Vicente Calderon Stadium in a bid to continue their La Liga title bid and striker Romario had been in fine form all campaign.
The game saw plenty of goals but none finer than the Brazilian’s epic finish. The ball broke to Romario about thirty yards from goal, the forward letting it run into his path before looking up to see Atletico’s keeper off his line. Romario chipped the ball into the air and it gracefully looped into the net, although his strike couldn’t prevent Barca slumping to a 4-3 defeat.
6. Flamengo vs Corinthians – Campeonato Brasileiro (1999)
In February 1999, this fierce and buzzing Brazilian league fixture pitted Romario’s Flamengo against Corinthians.
Flamengo led by a single goal when Romario picked up the ball on the left side of the penalty box. After weaving through several defensive bodies, the striker found himself around six yards out and prodded the ball powerfully into the net from a tight angle, Flamengo eventually winning 3-0.
5. PSV vs Steaua Bucharest – European Cup (1989)
The 1989/90 European Cup second round saw PSV battle Romanian side Steaua Bucharest in the second round.
Following a 1-0 defeat in Romania, PSV returned home to produce a memorable comeback performance, Romario scoring a hat-trick during a 5-1 drubbing. The Brazilian’s second goal in the 49th minute saw him set out on a mazy run, gliding past defenders before sitting the keeper down to slot the ball away.
4. Fluminense vs Guarini – Campeonato Brasileiro (2003)
In 2003, Romario’s Fluminense side played Guarini in the Brazilian league and thanks to the Brazilian took a convincing 2-0 lead.
The ball was zipped out to the left winger, then quickly floated back into the penalty spot amidst a melee of players. Guarini’s goalkeeper attempted to parry it away but the ball popped up into the air. Romario positioned himself under the falling ball before performing a precise and acrobatic bicycle kick from close range. Fluminense went on to win the game 5-2.
3. Barcelona vs Real Madrid – La Liga (1994)
Barcelona were vying for the La Liga title and travelled to the Bernabeu in January of 1994 to face Real Madrid.
The occasion didn’t faze Romario, who scored a hat trick during the 5-0 rout, his opening goal perhaps his most noteworthy. The Brazilian controlled the ball on the left edge of the box and, in a single scooping motion, dragged it away from the oncoming defender. As the goalkeeper rushed to close him, Romario quickly slid the ball into the far corner with the top of his right boot.
2. Valencia vs Atletico Madrid – Friendly Match (1997)
Days before the beginning of the 1996/97 La Liga season, Romario’s Valencia played Atletico Madrid in a friendly game.
One of the Atletico defenders attempted a clearance which sailed only as far as Romario around thirty-five yards from goal. The Brazilian first controlled the ball with his in-step then teed it up to hit at waist height before leaning back and firing into the left side of the goal.
1. Brazil vs Mexico – Friendly Match (1997)
In April 1997 and with the Copa America fast approaching, Brazil hosted Mexico in a friendly match.
During a routine victory and with the Brazilians already leading 3-0, the ball bounced around the right side of the penalty area, Mexico desperately trying to clear their lines. It was prodded skyward to the edge of the box where a waiting Romario struck his precise volley across the keeper and into the top corner!
