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Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira (; born 19 April 1972), known simply as Rivaldo, is a Brazilian former footballer who played mainly as an attacking midfielder but also as a second striker, and on occasion deployed as a wide midfielder or as a winger. Known for his skill and creativity, Rivaldo is considered one of the greatest players of all time. He was renowned for his bending free kicks, , feints, powerful ball striking from distance, and ability to both score and create goals. In 1999, he won the Ballon d'Or and was named FIFA World Player of the Year. In 2004, he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players. With success at club and international level, he is one of nine players to have won the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the Ballon d'Or.
Rivaldo started his career in 1991 with Brazilian club Santa Cruz, going on to have spells at Mogi Mirim, a loan spell at Corinthians, and Palmeiras. In 1996, he moved to Europe with Spanish side Deportivo de La Coruña, where his performances in his only season there led him to sign for FC Barcelona in 1997. At Barcelona, he formed a successful partnership with Dutch international Patrick Kluivert, and won consecutive La Liga titles in 1998 and 1999, as well as the 1998 Copa del Rey. Rivaldo notably scored a hattrick against Valencia CF in June 2001 which qualified Barcelona for the 2001-02 UEFA Champions League; the last goal was a last minute 20-yard bicycle kick winner and the hattrick itself is often ranked as the greatest ever. During his five-year tenure there, he scored 130 goals, ranking him among Barcelona's highest goalscorers of all time.
In 2002, Rivaldo signed for Italian club A.C. Milan, winning the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League in his only season there, however, his performances were underwhelming and he cancelled his contract with Milan in late 2004. He went on to play for Cruzeiro, Olympiacos, AEK Athens, FC Bunyodkor, a loan spell at São Paulo, Kabuscorp and São Caetano. In March 2014, Rivaldo announced his retirement from professional football, however since June 2015 he made appearances for Mogi Mirim, before retiring again in August 2015.
From 1993 to 2003, Rivaldo played 74 matches and scored 35 goals for Brazil and is the seventh highest goalscorer for the country. "Goalscoring for Brazil National Team". RSSSF. Retrieved 17 May 2014 He helped Brazil reach the final of the 1998 FIFA World Cup and won the 1999 Copa América where he was named player of the tournament. Rivaldo starred in an attacking trio with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho in the 2002 FIFA World Cup winning team. Scoring in five of Brazil's seven games at the tournament, Rivaldo was named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team in 2002 having also previously been selected in 1998. He is an inductee to the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame.
He is a minority shareholder of Romanian Liga I club Farul Constanța.
In his first season at Barcelona, Rivaldo was the second top goalscorer with 19 goals in 34 matches, as Barcelona won The Double of La Liga and Copa del Rey. In 1999, he won another La Liga title with Barcelona, and once again was the league's second highest scorer with 24 goals. In 1999, Rivaldo was named FIFA World Player of the Year and he also received the Ballon d'Or. After Barcelona's unsuccessful Champions League campaign, Rivaldo was linked with a move away from Camp Nou. Then Manchester United captain Roy Keane was reported stating Rivaldo was the player he most wanted United to sign.
In his third season at Barcelona, Rivaldo fell out with manager Louis van Gaal, when he insisted playing as a playmaker rather than on the left wing. Rivaldo Not a Happy Nou Camp-er , 4thegame, 22 December 1999 Even though he had a strained relationship with Van Gaal, Rivaldo went on to score 10 goals in the season's Champions League as the club reached the semi-finals. Van Gaal was fired in June 2000.
In the following 2000–01 season, Rivaldo was once again the second highest goalscorer of the league, with 23 goals. In the decisive last game of the season, against Champions League finalist Valencia CF, Rivaldo scored a hat-trick to win the game 3–2, pushing Barcelona ahead of Valencia to secure a place in the 2001–02 Champions League. Frequently ranked the greatest hat-trick ever, his first goal was a trademark bending free kick that curled into the bottom right corner, the second saw him send the Valencia player the wrong way with a feint before a strike with little back-lift from 25 yards swerved into the bottom left corner of the net, and his match-winning third occurred after Rivaldo controlled the ball with the chest from the edge of the Penalty area and executed an overhead bicycle kick in the 89th minute, which he regards as the best goal of his career. An ecstatic Rivaldo ripped off his jersey and started swinging it over his head during his , while Barcelona club president Joan Gaspart broke with convention in the stadium's VIP box by punching the air with both fists and yelling his delight next to the opposition delegation. After the game Rivaldo stated; "What happened tonight has been incredible. I dedicate the winning goal to all the players who have fought so hard all season and all the supporters who have suffered so much. I'm delighted to have made them happy with my goals." He scored a total of 36 goals that season. “False dawns and quiet frustration: The story of Rivaldo at AC Milan”. gentlemanultra.com. Retrieved 23 December 2020 During his five-year tenure at Barcelona, Rivaldo scored 130 goals, ranking him among the club's highest goalscorers of all time.
Rivaldo renewed his contract with Olympiacos for a third year, despite now being 34 years old. In July 2006, Rivaldo announced that the 2006–07 season with Olympiacos would be his last in Europe, before returning to Brazil. Rivaldo to quit at end of season, BBC, 17 July 2006 However, he quickly changed his decision and decided to stay for another year. The 2006–2007 season saw him score 17 goals in 27 Superleague matches. Rivaldo scored 43 goals in 81 games for Olympiacos.
Rivaldo had stated his intention to leave Greece if the ruling went in favour of Olympiakos and AEK Athens were not declared champions. He stated: "A team that was not good enough to win the title on the pitch does not deserve the trophy."
Rivaldo signed a two-year contract worth €10.2 million and later signed an extension to extend the contract to 2011. On his debut for Bunyodkor, Rivaldo scored both goals in a 2–0 win. In 2009, Rivaldo became the first player in the world to score one, then two, then three, then four goals in four consecutive matches. He scored one goal in the first match and two goals in the second match against Navbahor. In the third match on 25 June 2009, Rivaldo scored a hat trick in a 4–0 win against Metallurg. In the fourth match Bunyodkor beat Sogdiana Jizzakh 5–0 and Rivaldo scored four in 17 minutes. After the end of the 2009 season, Rivaldo won UFF Topscorer award, having scored 20 league goals, and was runner up for UFF Player of the Year award. He scored 33 goals for the club in total. Rivaldo announced on 11 August 2010 on Twitter that he had cancelled his contract with Bunyodkor.
Rivaldo stated on his Twitter account that he would leave São Paulo by the end of the season: "I just want to inform everybody that on Saturday, it's going to be my last training session at São Paulo. I've been told by the club's official that this is going to be my last season here." He added: "I'm not saying goodbye to football yet. I still have a lot to accomplish. I just wish I could hang up my boots at the end of 2012."
On 18 January 2019, SCC Mohammédia announced Rivaldo as their new technical director and coach for the following season. The player denied that a deal was made, as he signed a pre-contract in which the club must achieve promotion from National (third tier in the Moroccan league).
Rivaldo returned to the Brazil national team for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, where he scored three goals en route to the final, including two in the 3–2 quarter-final win against Denmark. Brazil were defeated 3–0 by hosts France in final, failing to defend their 1994 title. Rivaldo had not been a part of the victorious Brazilian team at the 1997 Copa América tournament, but was part of the successful defence of that title at the 1999 Copa América. Rivaldo finished the tournament as the top scorer, with five goals; one being an equaliser from a free-kick in a 2–1 win over Argentina in the quarter-finals, and two in the 3–0 victory over Uruguay in the final. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
Rivaldo had been the centre of criticism when Brazil did not win tournaments, ever since the 1996 Olympics.Rodrigo Amaral, Rivaldo reflects on wheel of fortune, BBC, 20 June 2002 In the 1–0 win against Colombia in November 2000, Rivaldo was booed so heavily that he threatened to retire from playing for his country. Brazil questions Rivaldo's role, BBC, 19 November 2000
The zenith and nadir of Rivaldo's national team career came at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, hosted in South Korea and Japan, where he was able to erase the disappointment of the previous World Cup Final defeat, helping Brazil win their fifth World Cup. Featuring in an attacking trio with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, dubbed "the three R's", Rivaldo scored in the first five games while Ronaldo scored in four matches. "FIFA Player Statistics: Rivaldo". FIFA.com. Retrieved 8 July 2014 Despite a successful tournament, Rivaldo was involved in a controversial incident against Turkey. Scolari: Rivaldo did not cheat The Guardian 4 June 2002 Near the end of the match, with the ball out of play, Turkish defender Hakan Ünsal kicked a ball towards Rivaldo, who was waiting at the corner flag. The ball struck his thigh, but Rivaldo fell to the ground clutching his face. The referee sent the Turkish player off with a second yellow card. After a video review, Rivaldo was fined 11,670 by FIFA.
Rivaldo's goal against Belgium in the second round prompted Belgian coach Robert Waseige to name him as the deciding factor.John Chapman, Wilmots tells of ref's apology, BBC, 17 June 2002 Ronaldinho assisted Rivaldo to score the equaliser against England in the quarter-finals before Ronaldinho scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory. "English dream over", 'CNN Sports Illustrated. June 2002 Brazil met Germany in the final, and went on to win the tournament with a 2–0 victory, courtesy of two goals by Ronaldo with Rivaldo involved in both goals. The first came after Rivaldo's shot was saved by German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn with Ronaldo scoring the rebound, and the second saw Rivaldo fool the German defence with a dummy as the ball ran on to Ronaldo who finished. "Brazil crowned world champions". BBC. Retrieved 8 June 2014 Rivaldo was named by Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari as the best player of the tournament. "Scolari: Rivaldo was World Cup's best". ESPN. Retrieved 8 July 2014 Rivaldo along with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho were named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team. "Campbell makes All-Star team". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2013
Rivaldo's last cap was on 19 November 2003 in Curitiba in a 3–3 draw with Uruguay. He played 79 minutes before being substituted for Luís Fabiano. He had scored his last goal just three days earlier from the penalty spot in a 1–1 draw with Peru. In his time with the national side, Rivaldo won 74 caps, and scored 35 goals.
Although he was not a true striker, Rivaldo was a prolific goalscorer, capable of playing in several creative and offensive positions: during the prime of his career, a period where he won the Ballon d'Or and was named FIFA World Player of the Year, he was often deployed in a playmaking attacking midfield role as a classic number 10, due to his vision and passing ability, which made him an excellent assist provider. He could also function as a second striker, or as a left winger, a position which he often occupied earlier in his career, due to his acceleration and crossing ability. Although predominantly left footed, he was capable of playing on either wing.
In 2002, John Carlin of The Guardian noted that Rivaldo "combines to dazzling effect the two essential qualities of the ideal footballer: artistry and efficiency." His colleague, Rob Smyth, echoed his views in 2008, commenting: "if you could marry British will with continental skill, you would have the perfect footballer. Such a mixed recipe was thrillingly in evidence in Diego Maradona. Since then, however, perhaps only Rivaldo has fused the two qualities," noting that like the Argentinian, the Brazilian had "bronca" (the word used repeatedly in Maradona's autobiography to refer to "anger, fury, hatred, resentment, bitter discontent). Former Dutch international Ruud Gullit believed that Rivaldo's ability and qualities were often overlooked, as "he played in the same era as Brazilian counterparts Ronaldo and Ronaldinho."
Bunyodkor
Brazil U23
Individual
Personal life
Rivaldo is a self-proclaimed Olympiacos fan. His son Rivaldinho is also a professional footballer, who currently plays for China League One club Qingdao Red Lions.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition Santa Cruz 1991 Série B 8 1992 Série B 1 Mogi Mirim 1992 13 Corinthians 1993 Série A 11 1994 Série A 1 Palmeiras 1994 Série A 14 1995 Série A 24 1996 Série A 22 Deportivo La Coruña La Liga 22 FC Barcelona 1997–98 La Liga|34||19||7||8||6||0|| colspan="2" rowspan="5" |—||4||1||51|28
1998–99 La Liga 29 1999–00 La Liga 23 2000–01 La Liga 36 2001–02 La Liga 14 AC Milan 2002–03 Serie A 8 2003–04 Serie A 0 Cruzeiro 2004 Série A 2 Olympiacos 2004–05 Super League Greece 15 2005–06 Super League Greece 11 2006–07 Super League Greece 17 AEK Athens 2007–08 Super League Greece 15 2008–09 Super League Greece 0 FC Bunyodkor 2008 Uzbek League 9 2009 Uzbek League|30||20||1||1||9||1||40|22
2010 Uzbek League|11||6||3||3||5||2||19|11
São Paulo 2011 Série A 7 Kabuscorp 2012 Girabola 11 São Caetano 2013 Série B 2 Mogi Mirim 2014 Série C 0 2015 Série B 1
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and year Brazil 1 0 1 2 1 5 8 8 3 5 1
+ List of international goals scored by Rivaldo
Honours
Santa Cruz
See also
External links
Categories: 1972 Births, Living People, Footballers From Recife, Brazilian Men's Footballers, Men's Association Football Forwards, Santa Cruz Futebol Clube Players, Mogi Mirim Esporte Clube Players, Sport Club Corinthians Paulista Players, Se Palmeiras Players, Deportivo De La Coruña Players, Fc Barcelona Players, Ac Milan Players, Cruzeiro Ec Players, Olympiacos F.c. Players, Aek Athens F.c. Players, Fc Bunyodkor Players, São Paulo Fc Players, Kabuscorp S.c.p. Players, São Caetano Futebol Players, Campeonato Brasileiro Série B Players, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Players, La Liga Players, Serie A Players, Super League Greece Players, Uzbekistan Super League Players, Girabola Players, Campeonato Brasileiro Série C Players, Uefa Champions League–winning Players, World Soccer Magazine World Player Of The Year Winners, Ballon D'or Winners, Brazil Men's Under-20 International Footballers, Olympic Footballers For Brazil, Brazil Men's International Footballers, Footballers At The 1996 Summer Olympics, 1997 Fifa Confederations Cup Players, 1998 Fifa World Cup Players, 1999 Copa América Players, 2002 Fifa World Cup Players, Fifa World Cup–winning Players, Olympic Bronze Medalists For Brazil, Olympic Medalists In Football, Fifa Confederations Cup–winning Players, Copa América–winning Players, Fifa World Player Of The Year Winners, Fifa 100, Uefa Champions League Top Scorers, Brazilian Expatriate Men's Footballers, Brazilian Expatriate Sportspeople In Spain, Brazilian Expatriate Sportspeople In Italy, Brazilian Expatriate Sportspeople In Greece, Brazilian Expatriate Sportspeople In Uzbekistan, Brazilian Expatriate Sportspeople In Angola, Expatriate Men's Footballers In Spain, Expatriate Men's Footballers In Italy, Expatriate Men's Footballers In Greece, Expatriate Men's Footballers In Uzbekistan, Expatriate Men's Footballers In Angola, Naturalised Citizens Of Spain, Scc Mohammédia Non-playing Staff, Medalists At The 1996 Summer Olympics, 20th-century Brazilian Sportsmen
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