Brazilian legend Romario hospitalised but stable

Ex-footballer and senator Romario de Souza Faria, winner and scorer in the 1994 World Cup in the United States with the Brazilian national team, was hospitalised on Thursday with an intestinal infection, but his health condition is now stable, his press office said on Friday.

The former striker for Spanish clubs Barcelona and Valencia, Dutch side PSV Eindhoven and Brazilian sides Flamengo and Vasco da Gama was admitted to 'Barra d'Or' hospital in Rio de Janeiro after complaining of discomfort and pain and was diagnosed with an intestinal infection.

The senator for the right-wing Liberal Party (PL), the party led by former president Jair Bolsonaro, was treated for the infection and his health condition is stable but there is still no forecast of medical discharge, according to his press office. Romario, 57, underwent emergency surgery in 2021 to remove his gall bladder.

The former footballer began his political career in 2010 and, that same year, was elected federal deputy for the state of Rio de Janeiro. In 2014, he was elected senator for the same state and in 2022, re-elected with 2.3 million votes, 29.19% of the total, for a new 8-year term in the Senate.

As a parliamentarian, he has stood out as an advocate for the cause of children with disabilities and for his contributions to sports legislation, as well as for his harsh attacks on football organisations and officials.

In his successful sporting career, in which he stood out as one of Brazil's top scorers, in addition to a world title, he won the silver medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul and the Copa America titles in 1989 and 1997, and the FIFA Confederations Cup in 1997.