Romario, who won the 1994 World Cup with Brazil and scored more than 1,000 goals playing for major clubs, is looking to give something back by entering local politics.

"Shorty", the poor boy from the Jacarezinho favela (shanty town) who became one of the world's best strikers, is seeking support from the poor in Rio to win a local election in October.

If he is elected as a federal deputy for the Rio branch of the Brazilian Socialist Party, Romario would hope to help deprived children "to give back all that which Father in Heaven gave me."

Romario, whose youngest daughter has Down's syndrome, proposes creating sports centers for young poor people in Rio state and providing social assistance to disabled children.

"In politics I'm going to have less difficulty than I've had so far to do something for children and young people in the community and also for children with special needs," the 44-year-old said.

"People, especially in the communities, respect me and see in me someone who came from where they are and that they can get to where I did," he told Reuters Television after three hours of campaigning in the City of God favela on Sunday.

"I was always an example for them in that sense and now that I can, I must give back all that which Father in Heaven gave me and I believe politics can make that possible for me."

The former Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Fluminense, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona and Valencia striker, who retired from football at 41 after scoring more than 1,000 goals according to his own statistics, promises "another goal for Brazil".

In an electoral TV program, Romario says: "In sport, I always promised and delivered. In politics, it won't be any different. I count on your vote to score another goal for Brazil."