Romario says 1,000th goal quest is not getting in the way

Former Brazil striker Romario has denied that his quest to score the 1,000th goal of his career was disrupting his team Vasco da Gama.

The 41-year-old, who has scored 999 goals according to his own calculations, also suggested that team-mate Leandro Amaral should play for a smaller club after saying the expectations and pressure were affecting the side.

"I'm used to playing for big clubs, I've done it all my life," said Romario, who watched his team's 2-1 defeat at Cabofriense from the stands.

"Vasco is a big team and people have to get used to the pressure.

"Of course, responsibility is a problem for some players and if he (Leandro Amaral) says it's a problem, he should go and play for a smaller club."

Romario did not play on Sunday because the game was not at the Maracana stadium, where he wants to reach the milestone.

He did not comment on a report in the Dutch newspaper De Volksrant which said he had already scored 1,000 goals.

The newspaper reported that Romario has omitted a goal he scored in August 1990 for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven in a friendly match against amateur side Nieuw Buinen.