RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil _ Romario's 1,000th goal wasn't scored in the Maracana stadium, and it came from a penalty kick.

But soccer-mad Brazil still breathed a sigh of relief Monday _ one day after the 41-year-old striker ended a nearly two-month cliffhanger worthy of a Brazilian soap opera.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva phoned Romario to congratulate him on the goal. Romario converted a 48th-minute penalty in Vasco da Gama's 3-1 victory Sunday over Sport of Recife in the second round of the Brazilian national championship.

Romario claimed his 999th goal on March 25 against Flamengo and then kept an entire nation waiting by failing to score for the next three games while Vasco was eliminated from the Rio de Janeiro state championship.

``This is a historic moment for me and world soccer,'' Romario said. ``I have been chasing this goal real hard and at times I thought I may never reach it.''

He wasn't the only one to have his doubts.

Former Vasco coach Renato Gaucho complained that the quest for No. 1,000 had hurt the team. Romario's wife Isbella Bittencourt objected to having to keep the children up late to watch the games and fans complained about ticket prices at the Maracana stadium.

Romario, who had said he would retire after scoring his 1,000th goal, now plans to stay on with Vasco until the end of the national championship.

Many in soccer consider Romario's achievement dubious, pointing to 71 goals he counts that were scored as a teenager and as an amateur, as well as others scored in training games and unofficial matches against small clubs.

His tally already was revised several times because he initially counted goals scored in matches that never happened and in games that ended 0-0.

According to FIFA, Romario has 929 career goals.

Pele had 1,281 goals in 1,363 matches but also had to wait for four games after scoring 999 goals. He too scored his 1,000th goal with a penalty kick.