Rivaldo facts for kids

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Rivaldo

Rivaldo playing for Bunyodkor in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira
Date of birth	(1972-04-19) 19 April 1972 (age 53)
Place of birth	Recife, Brazil
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Forward, attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	Farul Constanța (minority shareholder)
Youth career
1983–1989	Santa Cruz
1989	Paulistano
1989–1992	Santa Cruz
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1990–1992	Santa Cruz	27	(9)
1992–1994	Mogi Mirim	27	(9)
1993–1994	→ Corinthians (loan)	22	(11)
1994–1996	Palmeiras	86	(55)
1996–1997	Deportivo La Coruña	41	(21)
1997–2002	Barcelona	157	(86)
2002–2003	AC Milan	22	(5)
2004	Cruzeiro	7	(2)
2004–2007	Olympiacos	70	(36)
2007–2008	AEK Athens	35	(12)
2008–2011	Bunyodkor	53	(33)
2011	→ São Paulo (loan)	39	(6)
2012	Kabuscorp	21	(11)
2013	São Caetano	17	(2)
2014–2015	Mogi Mirim	12	(1)
Total		626	(299)
International career
1992–1993	Brazil U20	9	(1)
1996	Brazil Olympic (O.P.)	7	(1)
1993–2003	Brazil	74	(35)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Brazil FIFA World Cup Winner 2002 Korea/Japan Runner-up 1998 France FIFA Confederations Cup Winner 1997 Saudi Arabia Copa América Winner 1999 Paraguay Olympic Games Third 1996 Atlanta Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira (born on April 19, 1972), known simply as Rivaldo, is a famous Brazilian former footballer. He mostly played as an attacking midfielder but could also play as a second striker or on the wing. Rivaldo is known as one of the greatest players ever because of his amazing skill and creativity.

He was famous for his curving free kicks, bicycle kicks, clever moves (called feints), and powerful shots from far away. He was great at both scoring goals and helping his teammates score. In 1999, he won the Ballon d'Or and was named FIFA World Player of the Year. In 2004, the legendary footballer Pelé included him in the FIFA 100 list of the world's best living players. Rivaldo is one of only nine players to have won the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League, and the Ballon d'Or.

Rivaldo started his professional career in 1991 with a Brazilian club called Santa Cruz. He then played for several other Brazilian teams, including Mogi Mirim, Corinthians, and Palmeiras. In 1996, he moved to Europe to play for Deportivo de La Coruña in Spain. His great performances there led him to join Barcelona in 1997.

At Barcelona, Rivaldo teamed up well with Patrick Kluivert. They helped Barcelona win two La Liga titles in a row in 1998 and 1999, plus the Copa del Rey in 1998. A memorable moment was in June 2001 when he scored three goals (a hat-trick) against Valencia. The last goal was a fantastic 20-yard bicycle kick in the final minute, which helped Barcelona qualify for the Champions League. Many people consider this one of the greatest hat-tricks ever. During his five years at Barcelona, he scored 130 goals, making him one of the club's top goalscorers.

In 2002, Rivaldo joined the Italian club A.C. Milan. He won the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League in his first season there. After Milan, he played for Cruzeiro, Olympiacos, AEK Athens, Bunyodkor, São Paulo, Kabuscorp, and São Caetano. Rivaldo officially retired from professional football in March 2014, but he made a few more appearances for Mogi Mirim in 2015 before retiring for good in August 2015.

From 1993 to 2003, Rivaldo played 74 matches for the Brazilian national team and scored 35 goals. He is the seventh highest goalscorer for Brazil. He helped Brazil reach the final of the 1998 FIFA World Cup and won the 1999 Copa América, where he was named the best player of the tournament. Rivaldo was a key part of the 2002 FIFA World Cup winning team, playing alongside Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. He scored in five of Brazil's seven games in that tournament and was chosen for the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team in both 1998 and 2002. He is also in the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame.

Today, Rivaldo is a part-owner of the Romanian football club Farul Constanța.

Rivaldo's Early Life

Rivaldo was born in Recife, Brazil. He grew up in a poor area of the city called the favelas. The difficulties he faced as a child, like not having enough food, affected his body. He had bowed legs and lost several teeth.

Rivaldo started his professional football journey at 16, signing with Paulistano Futebol Clube in 1989. Even though coaches thought he was too physically weak, he kept going. Sadly, his father, Romildo, died in a road accident in 1989, but Rivaldo still signed his first professional contract that same year.

Club Career Highlights

Starting in Brazil

Rivaldo began playing for Santa Cruz in 1991. In 1992, he moved to São Paulo state to play for Mogi Mirim. In 1993, he joined Corinthians on loan, playing in Brazil's top division.

The next year, he moved to Palmeiras. He helped them win the league championship in 1994 and the Campeonato Paulista in 1996. In both 1993 and 1994, he was recognized as the best player in his position by Placar Magazine.

Moving to Europe: Spain

Before the 1996 Olympics, Rivaldo was supposed to join Parma in Italy. However, after some issues, he moved to Spain instead, joining Deportivo de La Coruña in La Liga. He only stayed for one season (1996–97), but it was very successful. Rivaldo scored 21 goals in 41 matches, helping Deportivo finish third in the league.

In 1997, Rivaldo moved to FC Barcelona. Barcelona paid a large transfer fee for him. Coach Bobby Robson believed Rivaldo would score many goals for the team.

Success at Barcelona

In his first season at Barcelona (1997–98), Rivaldo was the second-highest goalscorer with 19 goals. Barcelona won both La Liga and the Copa del Rey that year. In 1999, he won another La Liga title with Barcelona, scoring 24 goals. That same year, Rivaldo was named FIFA World Player of the Year and also received the Ballon d'Or.

During his third season (1999–2000), Rivaldo had disagreements with manager Louis van Gaal because he wanted to play as a playmaker, not on the left wing. Despite this, Rivaldo scored 10 goals in the Champions League, helping the club reach the semi-finals. Van Gaal left in June 2000.

In the 2000–01 season, Rivaldo was again the league's second-highest scorer with 23 goals. In the final game of the season against Valencia CF, Rivaldo scored an amazing hat-trick to win the game 3–2. This victory secured Barcelona's spot in the 2001–02 Champions League. His third goal was a spectacular overhead bicycle kick in the 89th minute, which he considers the best goal of his career. He scored 36 goals that season. Overall, Rivaldo scored 130 goals during his five years at Barcelona.

Playing in Italy and Greece

In 2002, Rivaldo signed a three-year deal with the Italian club A.C. Milan. He won the Coppa Italia and the Champions League in his first season (2002–03). He also won the UEFA Super Cup in August 2003. He left Milan in November 2003.

After leaving Milan, he briefly returned to Brazil to play for Cruzeiro in 2004. He left Cruzeiro after only two months because his coach, Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who had convinced him to join, was fired.

On July 22, 2004, Rivaldo joined Olympiacos in Greece. In his first season (2004–05), he scored important goals, including a bending free kick against Panathinaikos, their biggest rivals. Another famous goal was against Liverpool F.C. in the Champions League, where he scored a clever free kick. Olympiacos won the championship in Rivaldo's first season, thanks to his goal in the final game.

Rivaldo stayed with Olympiacos for a third year, even though he was 34. He scored 17 goals in 27 league matches during the 2006–07 season. He scored a total of 43 goals in 81 games for Olympiacos.

Later Career and Retirement

Rivaldo left Olympiacos after a disagreement and signed with AEK Athens in May 2007. He had another good season there.

On August 25, 2008, Rivaldo announced he would play for Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan, after receiving a very good contract offer. He signed a two-year contract worth €10.2 million and later extended it until 2011. In 2009, Rivaldo made history by scoring one, then two, then three, then four goals in four consecutive matches. He scored 20 league goals that year and was a runner-up for the UFF Player of the Year award. He scored 33 goals for the club in total.

On November 18, 2010, Rivaldo announced he would return to Mogi Mirim, the club where he started his career, and where he was also the president. However, he joined São Paulo in January 2011. He scored on his debut for São Paulo. He left São Paulo at the end of 2011.

In January 2012, Rivaldo joined the Angolan club Kabuscorp. He scored a hat-trick in March 2012. He left Kabuscorp in November 2012. In January 2013, Rivaldo joined São Caetano in Brazil. He scored his first goal for them against Corinthians on February 9. He left the club in November 2013 due to knee problems.

In December 2013, Rivaldo returned to Mogi Mirim again. His son, Rivaldinho, also played for the club. Rivaldo officially retired from football in March 2014 after a career of over 20 years. He continued as president of Mogi Mirim to help run the club and support his son. He said, "My history as a player has come to an end. With tears in my eyes today I would like to thank God, my family and all the support, the affection that I received during those 24 years as a player." However, he made a brief return to the team in June 2015. On July 14, 2015, Rivaldo and his son Rivaldinho both scored goals in the same match for the first time, as Mogi Mirim beat Macaé 3–1.

International Career with Brazil

In 1993, Rivaldo played his first game for the Brazil national football team, scoring the only goal in a friendly match against Mexico. He was chosen to represent Brazil at the 1996 Summer Olympics, where the team won the bronze medal.

Rivaldo with the World Cup trophy he won in 2002

Rivaldo returned to the Brazil national team for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He scored three goals on the way to the final, including two in the 3–2 quarter-final win against Denmark. Brazil lost 3–0 to hosts France in the final. Rivaldo was not part of the team that won the 1997 Copa América, but he helped Brazil successfully defend that title at the 1999 Copa América. Rivaldo was the top scorer in that tournament with five goals. He scored an equalizer from a free-kick against Argentina in the quarter-finals and two goals in the 3–0 victory over Uruguay in the final. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Rivaldo faced criticism when Brazil didn't win tournaments. In a 1–0 win against Colombia in November 2000, fans booed him so much that he threatened to stop playing for his country.

The best and most challenging part of Rivaldo's national team career came at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan. He helped Brazil win their fifth World Cup, making up for the disappointment of the previous final. He played in an attacking trio with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, known as "the three R's." Rivaldo scored in the first five games of the tournament.

Despite his success, Rivaldo was involved in a controversial moment against Turkey. Near the end of the match, a Turkish defender kicked the ball towards Rivaldo, who was waiting at the corner flag. The ball hit his thigh, but Rivaldo fell holding his face. The referee sent the Turkish player off. After a review, FIFA fined Rivaldo.

Rivaldo's goal against Belgium in the second round was a key moment. Ronaldinho helped Rivaldo score the equalizer against England in the quarter-finals, before Ronaldinho scored the winning goal. Brazil then met Germany in the final and won 2–0, with two goals from Ronaldo. Rivaldo was involved in both goals. Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari named Rivaldo the best player of the tournament. Rivaldo, Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho were all named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team.

Rivaldo's last game for Brazil was on November 19, 2003, in a 3–3 draw with Uruguay. He played 79 minutes before being substituted. He had scored his last goal three days earlier from a penalty kick against Peru. In total, Rivaldo played 74 games for Brazil and scored 35 goals.

How Rivaldo Played Football

Rivaldo is considered one of the best players of his time and one of the greatest players ever. He was a very skilled and creative player, known for his dribbling, clever feints, great balance, and close control of the ball. Even though he was tall, he was very quick and agile.

He was excellent at free kicks, known for making the ball curve perfectly. He was also great at taking penalties and scoring from far away with powerful shots. Rivaldo was left-footed and had amazing technique. He was also known for scoring with volleys and often used bicycle kicks.

Even though he wasn't a traditional striker, Rivaldo scored many goals. During his best years, when he won the Ballon d'Or and was named FIFA World Player of the Year, he often played as a playmaking attacking midfielder (like a classic number 10). This was because he had great vision and could make excellent passes, helping his teammates score. He could also play as a second striker or a left winger, especially earlier in his career, thanks to his speed and ability to cross the ball.

In 2002, John Carlin from The Guardian newspaper said that Rivaldo "combines to dazzling effect the two essential qualities of the ideal footballer: artistry and efficiency." This means he was both artistic and effective on the field.

Rivaldo's Personal Life

Rivaldo has said he is a big fan of Olympiacos, one of the clubs he played for. His son, Rivaldinho, is also a professional footballer. Rivaldinho currently plays for China League One club Qingdao Red Lions.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances and Goals

International Appearances and Goals

Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rivaldo goal.

List of international goals scored by Rivaldo

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	16 December 1993	Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico	Mexico	1–0	1–0	Friendly
2	18 May 1995	Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan, Israel	Israel	2–0	2–1	Friendly
3	27 March 1996	Teixeirão, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil	Ghana	6–1	8–2	Friendly
5	11 November 1997	Brasília, Brazil	Wales	2–0	3–0	Friendly
7	16 June 1998	Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, France	Morocco	2–0	3–0	1998 FIFA World Cup
8	3 July 1998	Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, France	Denmark	2–1	3–2	1998 FIFA World Cup
9	3 July 1998	Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, France	Denmark	3–2	3–2	1998 FIFA World Cup
10	18 November 1998	Castelão (Ceará), Fortaleza, Brazil	Russia	3–0	5–1	Friendly
11	30 June 1999	Estadio Antonio Oddone Sarubbi, Ciudad del Este, Paraguay	Venezuela	7–0	7–0	1999 Copa América
12	11 July 1999	Estadio Antonio Oddone Sarubbi, Ciudad del Este, Paraguay	Argentina	2–1	2–1	1999 Copa América
13	14 July 1999	Estadio Antonio Oddone Sarubbi, Ciudad del Este, Paraguay	Mexico	2–0	2–0	1999 Copa América
14	18 July 1999	Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay	Uruguay	1–0	3–0	1999 Copa América
15	18 July 1999	Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay	Uruguay	2–0	3–0	1999 Copa América
16	7 September 1999	Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil	Argentina	1–0	4–2	Friendly
17	7 September 1999	Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil	Argentina	2–0	4–2	Friendly
18	7 September 1999	Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil	Argentina	3–1	4–2	Friendly
19	23 February 2000	Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand	Thailand	1–0	7–0	2000 King's Cup
20	23 February 2000	Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand	Thailand	2–0	7–0	2000 King's Cup
21	26 April 2000	Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil	Ecuador	1–1	3–2	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
22	26 April 2000	Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil	Ecuador	3–1	3–2	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
23	23 May 2000	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	Wales	3–0	3–0	Friendly
24	28 June 2000	Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Uruguay	1–1	1–1	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
25	18 July 2000	Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay	Paraguay	1–1	1–2	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
26	3 September 2000	Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Bolivia	2–0	5–0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
27	15 August 2001	Estádio Olímpico Monumental, Porto Alegre, Brazil	Paraguay	2–0	2–0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
28	7 October 2001	Estádio Couto Pereira, Curitiba, Brazil	Chile	2–0	2–0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
29	14 November 2001	Castelão (Maranhão), São Luís, Brazil	Venezuela	3–0	3–0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
30	3 June 2002	Munsu Cup Stadium, Ulsan, South Korea	Turkey	2–1	2–1	2002 FIFA World Cup
31	8 June 2002	Jeju World Cup Stadium, Jeju, South Korea	China	2–0	4–0	2002 FIFA World Cup
32	13 June 2002	Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea	Costa Rica	4–2	5–2	2002 FIFA World Cup
33	17 June 2002	Kobe Wing Stadium, Kobe, Japan	Belgium	1–0	2–0	2002 FIFA World Cup
34	21 June 2002	Shizuoka Stadium, Fukuroi, Japan	England	1–1	2–1	2002 FIFA World Cup
35	16 November 2003	Estadio Monumental "U", Lima, Peru	Peru	1–0	1–1	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification

Awards and Achievements

Rivaldo won many awards and championships throughout his career:

With Santa Cruz

• Campeonato Pernambucano: 1990

With Palmeiras

• Brazilian Série A: 1994
• Campeonato Paulista: 1996
• Copa do Brasil runner-up: 1996

With Barcelona

• La Liga: 1997–98, 1998–99
• Copa del Rey: 1997–98
• UEFA Super Cup: 1997

With Milan

• Coppa Italia: 2002–03
• UEFA Champions League: 2002–03
• UEFA Super Cup: 2003

With Cruzeiro

• Campeonato Mineiro: 2004

With Olympiacos

• Alpha Ethniki/Super League Greece: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07
• Greek Cup: 2004–05, 2005–06

With Bunyodkor

• Uzbek League: 2008, 2009, 2010
• Uzbekistan Cup: 2008, 2010

With Brazil U23

• Summer Olympics Bronze Medalist: 1996

With Brazil National Team

• FIFA World Cup: 2002; runner-up: 1998
• Copa América: 1999
• Confederations Cup: 1997
• Umbro Cup: 1995

Individual Awards

• Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame
• Brazilian Bola de Prata (Best Player in Position): 1993, 1994
• La Liga Best Foreign Player: 1997–98
• La Liga top assist provider: 2000–01
• Copa del Rey Top scorer: 1997–98
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (2): 1998, 2002
• ESM Team of the Year (2): 1998–99, 1999–2000
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 1999
• Onze d'Or: 1999
• Ballon d'Or: 1999
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1999
• Copa América Golden Boot: 1999
• Copa América Golden Ball: 1999
• Trofeo EFE: 1999
• UEFA Champions League Top scorer: 1999–2000
• IFFHS World's Top Goal Scorer: 2000
• FIFA World Player of the Year: Bronze award 2000
• FIFA World Cup Silver Shoe: 2002
• FIFA XI: 2002
• FIFA 100
• Alpha Ethniki Best Foreign Player (2): 2006, 2007
• Alpha Ethniki top assist provider: 2008
• Uzbek League Top scorer: 2009
• Uzbek League top assist provider: 2009

See also

In Spanish: Rivaldo para niños

• List of men's footballers with the most official appearances
• List of association football families