Rivaldo

Brazilian legend who won the World Cup, Champions League, and Ballon d'Or.

Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira (born 19 April 1972), known simply as Rivaldo, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played primarily as an attacking midfielder or second striker, while also operating as a left winger. Known for his skill and creativity, Rivaldo was renowned for his bending free kicks, bicycle 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 a select number of players to have won the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the Ballon d'Or, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. In addition, he is also one of a select number of players who have amassed over 1,000 career appearances.

Quick Facts

Full name

Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira

Born

19 April 1972

Birthplace

Recife, Brazil

Height

1.87 m / 6 ft 2 in

Position

Attacking midfielder
left winger
forward

Current club

Farul Constanța (minority shareholder)

Lore & Background

From 1993 to 2003, Rivaldo played 74 matches and scored 34 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 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.

Reader's Guide

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 La Coruña, where his performances in his only season there led him to sign for 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 hat-trick 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 hat-trick 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 2003.

He went on to play for Cruzeiro, Olympiacos, AEK Athens, 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.