GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor

Sean Fraser ( left) and Romario - contributed

"Baixinho", his Portuguese nickname which means "Shorty" or "Little 'un", fits Romario's physical make-up easily. But it doesn't match the giant stature of the Brazilian star's football accomplishments.

It fails to describe his mountainous quest to score 1,000 goals, a target hit only by Pele, and that for the past few months he required help from football's lesser lights.

This season, Romario de Souza Farias's audacious hunt took him from the glamorous world stage, to a second level league in the United States, where he listed Caribbean nationals among team-mates, opponents and fans. The striker led Miami F.C., South Florida's only professional football team, to the play-offs in the club's first United Soccer Leagues campaign, and tied for top scorer in the USL regular season with 18 goals, before adding another in the play-offs last weekend.

Those goals moved him to 983, according to a recent news report. Football's world governing body FIFA had the official total at 950 when Romario scored on Jan. 28 this year, a day before he turned 40. The count includes goals from professional leagues and national team appearances for the famous "Selecao". Yet the exact tally is still hotly debated.

"He (Romario) says one thing, the press says one thing," admitted a Miami F.C. official on Wednesday.

Regardless, the club handled its captain with delicate care. Romario had a personal trainer flown in from Brazil and was not required to attend all team practices. He reportedly lived on luxurious South Beach, Miami's party hub. But the special treatment hardly bothered his teammates.

"Everybody is alright with it," said Jamaican Sean Fraser recently. "People just look at it as it's Romario."

Like the Pied Piper, anywhere the Brazilian with the bowed legs and greying, balding pate went in 2006, admiring crowds would follow. While Romario was not easy to pin down for exclusive interviews (no response was received from Miami F.C. after several requests were made for this story), he obliged fans seeking autographs and photo opportunities. Parents pointed out "number 11" to kids, many who were not even conceived when Romario helped Brazil lift the 1994 World Cup in the U.S. and won the "Golden Boot" award for most goals in the tournament. He was also named "FIFA World Player-of-the-Year". Opponents were in awe as well.

"Any footballer would dream of playing on the same field with a true legend of the game," said Jamaica national player Fabian Dawkins, a member of the Atlanta Silverbacks, a USL team once trounced 7-1 by Miami F.C. on a Romario hat-trick. "It's overwhelming, pure joy."

PASSION

On the field, Romario rarely showed outward emotion, except when he scored. But teammates said his passion for the game still rages.

"When he loses he gets very angry with the players in the locker room," said Fraser. "He talks to everybody, one by one, and he takes the blame, especially if he got chances and didn't score."

While Romario looked trim - at 5' 6" and somewhere around 160 pounds - his agility, acceleration and marksman's aim have diminished. The man once dubbed "an incredible finisher" by Diego Maradona cannot show the sublime form he had for Brazil against Jamaica in the CONCACAF Gold Cup a few years ago. But "Baixihno" retained his predator's instinct.

"(Romario) is an opportunistic player," said Silverbacks' coach Jason Smith. "He still has a nose for the goal."

His teammates, especially playmaking midfielder Zinho, a fellow '94 World Cup winner, tailored Miami F.C.'s attacks to suit the ageing superstar.

"(Zinho) knows where (Romario) wants the ball," Smith explained.

In over two decades as a pro, Romario always knew what to do with it too, rising from poverty to top score in the world's best leagues, for clubs like Flamengo and Fluminese in Brazil, and PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona and Valencia in Europe. His 22 goals for Vasco da Gama led the Brazilian Championship last season.

Football made him rich. Yet at times, using humour and compassion, Romario found a common touch at Miami F.C., amongst lesser known teammates struggling with modest pay.

"This is my first professional team and I could not have asked for more, playing with such big names like Romario and Zinho," said Haiti national player Stephane Guillaume.

But despite a glistening career for Brazil, scoring 55 times in 70 games in the canary yellow shirt, Romario is rarely mentioned alongside Pele, the beloved three-time World Cup winner who conquered America in the 1970s. Romario despises grinding, physical training and badmouthed fellow players and coaches. He called another Brazilian legend Zico a "born loser" and carried a 'bad boy' party image.

Now it is doubtful Romario will return to Miami F.C. to continue his goal chase. He is not signed for 2007. But USL fans warmed to the little Brazilian this year. At a recent sold out Silverbacks stadium the announcer requested applause for Romario. The striker responded by scoring against the home team, then turned to the loudest section of the stands and raised his arms in delight. Even the Silverbacks fan carrying the huge "Romario Who?" sign got the message.

"Baixihno" is still standing tall.

Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.