Brazilian football star Romario de Souza Faria said on Friday that he would play one or two more matches before he retires from the sport.

Brazilian soccer veteran Romario de Souza pauses between plays during the semi-final match of the Rio Cup championship between his team Vasco da Gama and Botafogo in Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium, April 11, 2007.

Romario, 41, told local television Sport TV that he is recovering from an injury of right ankle and in two weeks, he would come back to "the thing he likes the most to do, that is to play football".

"I think I will be still playing again for one or two matches and then quit definitely", said the FIFA Footballer of the Year in 1994, who has marked his 1000 goals in May, during a match of the Brazilian League.

After his thousandth goal, Romario only played two matches with his club, Vasco da Gama. In the first match, he marked two goals, raising his personal record to 1002 goals. In the second match, his team lost to Botafogo 4-0.

"My goal is to play one or two more matches and I don't want to be an obstacle for Vasco", he said.

Romario helped the Brazil national team win the 1994 World Cup and has been one of the most prolific strikers in the world since the 1990s, having had successful tenures with European clubs PSV Eindhoven and FC Barcelona, and in Brazil with Vasco da Gama.

He is the third highest goal scorer in the history of the Brazilian team, as well as the second highest scorer of all time in the Brazilian League, in which he has finished as the top scorer six times.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2007)