updated 3:21 p.m. ET Jan. 4, 2007

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Veteran striker Romario began training Thursday with Vasco da Gama, returning to the club that launched him to global stardom in his quest to reach 1,000 goals.

Romario, who turns 40 this month, reported for medical tests and worked out lightly Thursday at the club in Rio, while the rest of the team gathered at Vasco’s training camp in the rural city of Resende.

Romario will get preferential treatment at Vasco, which he personally helped to finance when it teetered on the brink of bankruptcy a few years ago.

“Everyone knows that he’s the only one that has special privileges, the president made that clear,” Vasco coach Renato told Pele’s Web site. “But on the field Romario will have to work hard — not like a 20-year-old kid, but at a good rhythm.”

Romario helped lead the four-time Brazilian champions to the national title in 1989 and went on to star for Spain’s FC Barcelona. He led Brazil to the World Cup championship in 1994, when he was named by FIFA the world’s outstanding player.

Although he no longer has the sprinter’s speed and acceleration that made him famous, Romario still hopes to reach the 1,000-goal mark, achieved only by the great Pele. Romario has more than 900 goals by his count.

Romario still requires FIFA’s permission to sign with Vasco. The world soccer body doesn’t allow a player to play on more than two clubs in a year, and Romario already has played for teams in Miami and Adelaide, Australia.

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