RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Romario is back — maybe.

The 42-year-old striker said he was awaiting a proposal to continue playing, according to the Agencia Estado news agency today, contradicting his decision a day earlier to end his career.

Romario surprised soccer fans by saying he was out of shape and unable to return to competitive play in an exclusive interview in Friday's edition of the O Dia newspaper.

"I've stopped playing. I can't do it any more," Romario said.

But he retracted the announcement late Friday and wants to play a few more games, Agencia Estado said.

Vasco da Gama has resumed talks with Romario, whose contract with the club expires Sunday. Flamengo is also reportedly interested in the player.

Considered one of the top Brazilian strikers of all time, Romario led Brazil to its fourth World Cup title in 1994, when he was named FIFA's player of the year.

Last year, Romario scored what he claimed was his 1,000th career goal, though FIFA officially gave him a much lower total. Romario counted 71 goals scored in amateur games, scrimmages and unofficial matches against small clubs. He has had to revise his tally downward several times after it was revealed that some of the goals he counted were scored in matches that never happened, or in games that ended 0-0.