Icons: Rivaldo
This player might be Brazilian, but like his friend Ronaldo, his impact across Europe was huge.
Let's explore Rivaldo's fantastic career
A brief introduction
Rivaldo played mainly as an attacking midfielder. However, he was also used as a second striker and occasionally as a wide midfielder or a winger. He was renowned for his bending free kicks, bicycle kicks, feints, and powerful ball striking from a distance. Rivaldo also had the ability to both score and create goals.
In 1999, he won the Ballon d'Or and was named FIFA World Player of the Year. With his huge success, he is one of nine players to have won the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the Ballon d'Or.
Early career
He started his career in 1991 with Brazilian club Santa Cruz, moving on to spells at Mogi Mirim, a loan spell at Corinthians, and Palmeiras. People across the major European leagues were impressed, and it was inevitable that a move wasn't far away.
This video explores his early career. Video credit - Rivaldo, the Early Years | 1991-1996 | Skills, Assists & Goals - YouTube
The start of a successful career in Europe.
In 1996, he moved to Spanish side Deportivo de La Coruña. Rivaldo's performances in his only season there led him to sign for Barcelona in 1997. It was here where he formed a hugely successful partnership with Patrick Kluivert and they won consecutive La Liga titles in 1998 and 1999, as well as the 1998 Copa del Rey.
He notably scored a hattrick against Valencia 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.
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UCL and UEL (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)
During his time at the Nou Camp, he became a huge legend and hit with the fans. He eventually was on the move again. This time it was to a short stay in Italy. Paulo, a Barcelona fan, told us: "He was a fantastic player for Barcelona and one that maybe should have stayed a bit longer. That being said, he left us with some great memories."
Icons: Lionel Messi (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)
In 2002, he signed for Italian club A.C. Milan and won the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League in his only season there. His performances were deemed underwhelming by the coaching staff and a lot of fans. His contract with Milan was cancelled. Throughout his short time there, he was always linked with a move away. Most famously, he was rumoured to be signing Bolton Wanderers. Imagine Rivaldo at Bolton? It very nearly happened.
Gerry, a Bolton fan, said: "It's a huge pity that Rivaldo never signed for us at that time. We signed some fabulous players around that period, but Rivaldo would have been the best ever to play for our club."
After leaving Milan, he went on to play for Cruzeiro, Olympiacos, AEK Athens, Bunyodkor, São Paulo, Kabuscorp and São Caetano. His time at Olympiacos could be considered a huge success. He won the Super League in 2004–05, 2005–06 and 2006–07 alongside the Greek Cup in 2004–05 and 2005–06.
Illias, an Olympiacos fan, told us: "I still often find it hard to believe that he actually played for us. He was a sensational player throughout his time in Greece. A legend."
<More Greek news and stories can be found here>
In March 2014, the icon announced his retirement from professional football, however since June 2015 he made appearances for Mogi Mirim, before retiring once again in August 2015.
International career
You can see some of his best goal's for Brazil in the video below. Video credit - Rivaldo, Extraterrestre [Goals & Skills] - YouTube
Rivaldo scored 35 goals for Brazil and is the seventh-highest goalscorer for the country. He helped Brazil reach the final of the 1998 FIFA World Cup and won the 1999 Copa América. He was also 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, he was included in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team in 2002.
