RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) The Brazilian Socialist Party says that national football great Romario will be one of its candidates for a seat in Congress in the October general elections.

Marco San, the co-ordinator of Romario's campaign, says the former striker's candidacy to the lower house of Congress will be ratified at the party's convention in June.

He says that, if elected, Romario will focus on social issues like health and education and on ways to use sport as a means to social inclusion.

San said yesterday that Romario was out of town and could not be reached for comment.

Romario -- who led Brazil to the 1994 World Cup title and was voted the world's best player that year -- joined the party last year.