RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian soccer veteran Romario returned to Vasco da Gama and started training on Thursday.

    Romario, turning 40 this month, reported for medical tests and worked out lightly at the club in Rio where he rocketed to fame.

    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.

    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.

    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.