Brazil: Ex Soccer Star Romario to Run for Governor of Rio

Former World Cup-winning footballer Romario de Souza – best known by the mononym, Romario – is getting ready to run for governor of Rio de Janeiro, an AFP report stated.

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De Souza, who currently serves as a senator, will make his bid to represent the violence-plagued city in October. According to BBC, Rio is also teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.

The Brazilian is a member of the Podemos party. He shared that his campaign will focus on addressing those problems.

"In these chaotic times, change is necessary, change is urgent ... Rio always had safety problems, but never like now," de Souza said while announcing his candidacy to represent the centrist party for which he was elected federal deputy in 2010 before becoming a senator in 2014.

He had previously run for governor but prematurely dropped out of the race.

"I don't have experience of being in charge. It will be, God willing, the first time that I've had the opportunity to demonstrate all I have learned in my life."

De Souza is currently under investigation for allegedly concealing assets to avoid paying debts, Brazilian media report. He has denied the accusations.

The senator gained popular support for being vocal against corruption sport as well as advocating for disabled people – one of his daughters has Down Syndrome.

Romario backed the impeachment of former President Dilma Rousseff.