Ex-Vasco player announces retirement at 35 | OneFootball

Champion of the Copa do Brasil with Vasco in 2011, midfielder Rômulo officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 35. The decision was made following Retrô's relegation to Série D of the Brazilian Championship at the end of the 2025 season.

In an interview with Portal Agora ED, the now former player stated that he intends to enjoy more personal life and spend time with his family after two decades dedicated to football.

Born in Picos, in the south of Piauí, Rômulo began his football journey in the youth categories of Porto-PE. Later, he transferred to Vasco, where he turned professional in 2010 and established himself as a starter in the historic campaign of the 2011 Copa do Brasil title, won against Coritiba.

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Romulo poses next to the 2011 Copa do Brasil, a victory he was part of with Vasco — Photo: Rafael Ribeiro/Vasco da Gama

International Career and Brazilian National Team

After standing out in Brazilian football, Rômulo moved to Spartak Moscow, where he played in the UEFA Champions League. One of the most memorable moments of his time at the Russian club was the goal scored against Barcelona, featuring Lionel Messi, at Camp Nou.

The midfielder also had stints with the Brazilian National Team. In 2012, he was part of the squad that won the silver medal at the London Olympic Games, being defeated by Mexico in the final. For the main team, he scored a goal against Argentina in a friendly match preparing for the Olympic competition.

Besides Vasco and Spartak Moscow, Rômulo also wore the jerseys of Flamengo, Grêmio, Shijiazhuang Ever Bright in China, and Retrô.

Last Season

In 2025, Rômulo played his third season for Retrô. In total, there were nine matches across the Campeonato Pernambucano, Copa do Brasil, and Série C of the Brazilian Championship. The team from Pernambuco finished Série C second to last, with 14 points, a result that led to relegation to Série D.

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Rômulo, midfielder of the National Team at the London Olympics, 2012 — Photo: Bruno Marinho

Profile of Rômulo

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.