The former Brazil striker Romário has been elected to the senate in his home country after winning 63.4% of the vote for the Rio de Janeiro seat.

The 48-year-old Socialist candidate, who was part of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning side, finished comfortably ahead of his Democratic Party rival, Cesar Maia, who received 20.5%.

Elected as a congressman for the Socialist Party in 2010, Romário, who scored 55 goals in 70 appearances for the Seleção, was strongly opposed to Brazil hosting the 2014 World Cup, alleging corruption and a waste of public money.

In his playing career, Romário shot to prominence in Europe after a successful spell with PSV Eindhoven secured a move to Barcelona in 1993, where he helped the Catalan club to La Liga title and the Champions League final in his first season, scoring 30 goals in 33 matches.