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By Hoang Nguyen  February 4, 2025 | 06:24 pm PT
Former Brazilian football star Romario (R) with his girlfriend Alicya Gomes. Photo by Instagram/karllos_kosta
Brazilian football legend Romario, who recently celebrated his 59th birthday, is dating Alicya Gomes, a 21-year-old college student.
According to news site Extra, the pair met last year when Romario, now a congressman, was campaigning in Baixada Fluminense, the region where Gomes lives. They reportedly began dating shortly after and have been together for about six months.
The couple was first spotted publicly at a music event in Rio de Janeiro last October, where they partied with friends in the VIP section, appearing together throughout the night. More recently, Gomes attended Romario's lavish 59th birthday celebration on Jan. 29, The Sun reported.
Gomes has over 5,000 followers on Instagram but has set her account to private since dating Romario. Before dating Gomes, Romario was in a relationship with Maria Geusiane Santos, who was 24 years younger than him.
Romario, famously nicknamed "The Little One", has five children from three marriages and another child from an extramarital relationship. Known for his playboy lifestyle, he once made headlines in 2018 when he advised fellow Brazilian footballer Gabriel Jesus to "have plenty of sex to stay inspired for the World Cup". Following the end of his marriage, Romario has often dated significantly younger women.
Born Romario de Souza Faria in 1966, the Brazilian legend is celebrated for his prolific career, having scored over 100 goals for three different clubs, a rare achievement in football. He played for clubs like PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona and Valencia before returning to Brazil to finish his career.
Renowned for his clinical finishing, Romario scored 55 goals in 70 appearances for the Brazilian national team, playing a pivotal role in their 1994 World Cup triumph. He has also become the Champions League top scorer twice. After retiring from football, Romario transitioned into politics.
