Debut

Debut. A 19-years old striker debuted for Vasco da Gama (Rio de Janeiro) in 1985, but he did not come out of the blue.

Romario was already known and his debut was expected. Not famous, of course, but known.

The poor boy, born in Rio de Janeiro, was noticed when he played for the youth team of Olaria – 1979-80. Noticed by Vasco da Gama and the club took him in.

In 1984 the talented striker was regular of Vasco da Gama junior team, which was strong and it was not all that easy to shine with such competition.

But it was Romario made a regular of the Brazilian Under-20 national team, which won the South American Under-20 championship.

And it his goal against Paraguay helping Brazil at the final.

Romario was giving interviews.

The press covered him often, he was bound to be a star. But times changed, it was the 80-s, not the 1950-s… Gifted or not, Romario debuted for the professional team at 19 – by now, juniors were considered too fragile to field just like that. Play him with the juniors, let him build some muscle first, a mere youth can burn out in minutes, better wait. Besides, Vasco da Gama had Roberto Dinamite – Romario was considered somewhat similar player and thus redundant: why risking with young unknown, when having great star.

But eventually Romario was included in the team and made surprisingly good duo with Roberto Dinamite. He scored 3 goals in his first match. There was no stopping after that, but the world learned about him in 1988.