Rivellino

Lore & Background

Rivellino was born in São Paulo and started as a futsal player at Clube Atlético Barcelona. He then moved to Corinthians, where he turned professional and became a fan favorite, nicknamed 'O Rei do Parque' (King of the Park) after the club's home ground, Parque São Jorge. In 1974, after Corinthians lost the São Paulo league finals to Palmeiras, Rivellino was singled out by fans as responsible for the loss. He then moved to Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro, winning the Rio de Janeiro league championship in 1975 and 1976. He later played for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia and retired in 1981.

In Their Own Story

The afternoon sun beat down on the Pacaembu pitch as Rivellino stepped up to take a free-kick from thirty yards out. The wall of opposing defenders stood tall, but he knew their height was no match for his curve. With a calm exhale, he struck the ball with the inside of his instep. It soared over the wall, dipping violently in mid-air like a falling leaf before nestling into the top corner. The stadium erupted, not just for the goal, but for the sheer poetry of the moment—a reminder that magic still lived on Brazilian grass.

Reader's Guide

Rivellino played as an attacking midfielder and was deployed on the left side of midfield for Brazil. He scored three goals in the 1970 World Cup, including a powerful bending free kick against Czechoslovakia that earned him the nickname 'Patada Atómica' (Atomic Kick) from Mexican fans. He also played in the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, finishing fourth and third respectively. After retirement, he became a football commentator and coach, managing Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan's J. League. He represented Brazil in the 1989 World Cup of Masters, scoring in the final against Uruguay.

Did You Know?

• Rivellino claimed to have perfected the flip flap, later adopted by players like Romário, Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho.
• He is sometimes credited with scoring the fastest goal in football history, direct from the kick-off after noticing the goalkeeper praying.
• Diego Maradona named Rivellino as one of his greatest childhood inspirations.
• Rivellino criticized the inclusion of Manaus as a 2014 World Cup host venue, calling it 'absurd' due to the heat and humidity.