Romario says he is Brazil's best since 1970

Former World Cup striker Romario said on Thursday that he considers himself to be Brazil's most important player since 1970.

"This will probably cause another controversy and I'll probably get a good hiding for saying it, but, yes I consider myself (to be the best)," he said when asked the question at a media conference on Thursday.

Romario, still playing for first division Fluminense at the age of 38, announced that he would reunite Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning team for a match in Los Angeles on November 10 to mark his international farewell.

Although he has never officially announced his international retirement, Romario has not been picked by his country since captaining the side which lost 1-0 to Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier three years ago.

Brazil will face a Mexican team in a match which will also be used as a tribute to former Mexico goalkeeper Jorge Campos, famous for wearing outrageous luminous kits and occasionally playing as a striker.

"I thought this would be the right moment as it is 10 years since we won the fourth world title," said Romario, who scored five goals in the 1994 tournament.

"It's a unique opportunity to reunite the gang," he added.

1,000 GOALS

Romario, who has played little first team football this year, said he still had no intention of retiring, although he admitted it was now almost impossible to reach his target of scoring 1,000 goals in his career.

"It's difficult for anyone who has played football for a long time to stop, but I know this moment will arrive," he said.

"The last two years haven't been very positive and it would be almost impossible (to reach 1,000 goals)," added the former PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona and Valencia striker, who claims his tally -- which critics claim includes youth team games and other non-official matches -- stands at 908.

Romario, who recently asked Fluminense coach Alexandre Gama to leave him out of the team because he did not feel match fit, said that he was now having difficulty getting back into the side.

Fluminense have enjoyed a seven-match unbeaten run in his absence and Romario has been left out of the two matches played since he was declared fully fit again.

"I'm ready when they need me," he said. "I'm not injured and I'm not playing -- so I've been dropped. But I'm going to keep trying.