Former Brazil striker Romario has announced plans to run for Congress in October elections as a Brazilian Socialist Party candidate.

"My principal objective is to work with all my strength to aid impoverished children," the Brazilian football hero said in his first television ad that went out on Tuesday evening.

A member of Brazil's 1994 FIFA World Cup™-winning and Johan Cruyff's Barcelona 'Dream team', Romario has faced a series of legal and personal problems.

His luxury Rio apartment was auctioned off last year for 4.5 million dollars to pay debts and he was convicted of tax evasion and investigated in connection with a murder linked to an illegal gambling network.

He spent 22 hours in custody until he paid a debt of 45,000 dollars to his first wife and the mother of two of his six children.

Romario recently came out of retirement and returned to action with the Rio team America. During his long and illustrious career he played at Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven in Europe and a number of Brazilian clubs including Vasco da Gama.