Romario and Bebeto, who made up the attacking duo that was key to Brazil’s conquest of the 1994 World Cup in the United States, made public the end of the friendship they shared for almost three decades because of politics, especially with polarization of last year’s elections between Bolsonaro and the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Romario is a senator for Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party, while Bebeto was a candidate for federal deputy for the Social Democratic Party (PSD, center-right) of Rio de Janeiro mayor Eduardo Paes, an ally of Lula.
“Bebeto is a traitor, he was my greatest partner in every way but he is no longer. He betrayed me in politics. He went to the other side. There are some things in life that I carry forever, in and out of politics. Every day there is always someone who betrays but when it is done by someone with whom I had a friendly relationship in all aspects, it is sad, “said Romario.
Bebeto was surprised by the statement because he recently participated in the recording of an HBO documentary in tribute to Romario, and speculated that the fight was a consequence of politics, since Romario invited him to join his political group in 2022, something which was rejected at the time.
