Rômulo, 35, announces retirement after Retrô relegation and 2011 Copa do Brasil triumph | OneFootball

Rômulo has announced his retirement from professional football at 35, following Retrô’s relegation from Série C this year. The midfielder won the 2011 Copa do Brasil with Vasco and later played for Spartak Moscow, Flamengo and Grêmio.

"In 2025, at the end of the season, I am ending my career. Now it is about enjoying life, my family, staying close to my children and enjoying it a little. It has been 20 years of a career, and now we will enjoy life a little," he told Portal Agora ED.

Born in Picos, in southern Piauí, he came through the youth ranks at Porto-PE before moving to Vasco, where he turned professional in 2010. He was a starter during the club’s historic 2011 Copa do Brasil success against Coritiba.

He also featured for Spartak Moscow, appearing in the Champions League. On that stage he scored at Camp Nou against Barcelona.

Rômulo had spells with Brazil, most notably at London 2012 when the team won Olympic silver after losing the final to Mexico. He also scored against Argentina in a friendly before the Games.

This year marked his third season with Retrô, for whom he made nine appearances across the Pernambucano, the Copa do Brasil and Série C. The Pernambuco club finished second-bottom on 14 points, a campaign that ended in relegation to Série D.

Source: Globo.com