Rivellino facts for kids
Rivellino in 1970
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Roberto Rivellino | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 1 January 1946 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | São Paulo, Brazil | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.69m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Attacking midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1962 | C.A. Barcelona | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1963–1964 | Corinthians | ||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | ||||||||||||||||
| 1965–1974 | Corinthians | 236 | (70) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1975–1978 | Fluminense | 45 | (10) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1978–1981 | Al-Hilal | 57 | (25) | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 338 | (105) | |||||||||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1965–1978 | Brazil | 92 | (26) | ||||||||||||||||
| Teams managed | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1994 | Shimizu S-Pulse | ||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Roberto Rivellino (born 1 January 1946), known simply as Rivellino, is a famous Brazilian football expert and former player. He was a key player in Brazil's team that won the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Many people consider that team the greatest World Cup team ever.
Rivellino was born in São Paulo, Brazil. His parents were immigrants from Italy. He played as an attacking midfielder. He was known for his cool moustache and amazing football skills. These skills included bending free kicks, powerful long-range shots, and accurate long passes. He also had excellent ball control and dribbling abilities.
He even invented a special football move called the "flip flap". This trick involves quickly flicking the ball around a defender. Famous players like Ronaldo and Cristiano Ronaldo later copied this move. Rivellino is seen as one of the most graceful and greatest football players of all time. Even Diego Maradona said Rivellino was one of his biggest inspirations. In 2004, Pelé included him in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.
Today, Rivellino works as a football expert for a TV channel called TV Cultura.
Contents
Rivellino's Club Career
Rivellino started his football journey playing futsal (indoor football) in São Paulo. He then joined Corinthians, a big professional club. He quickly became a fan favorite there. Fans even called him "O Rei do Parque" (King of the Park). This nickname came from the club's home ground, Parque São Jorge.
However, the late 1960s and early 1970s were tough times for Corinthians. The team did not win many titles during this period.
In 1974, Corinthians lost a big final match. Many fans blamed Rivellino, even though he was a star. So, he moved to Rio de Janeiro and joined Fluminense. He played there until the late 1970s. Rivellino was the biggest star of the "tricolor machine" Fluminense team in the mid-70s. He helped them win the Rio de Janeiro league championship in 1975 and 1976.
Later, he moved to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia. He retired from professional football in 1981.
Rivellino's International Career
Rivellino was a very important player for Brazil's team that won the 1970 FIFA World Cup. This team is often called the best World Cup team ever. He wore the number 11 jersey and played on the left side of the midfield.
He scored three goals in that tournament. One famous goal was a powerful, bending free kick against Czechoslovakia. Mexican fans were so impressed that they nicknamed him "Patada Atómica" (Atomic Kick). Rivellino also played in the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups. Brazil finished fourth in 1974 and third in 1978.
After Retiring from Football
After he stopped playing, Rivellino became a football commentator. He also worked as a coach for a short time. He managed a team called Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan.
Rivellino also played in a special tournament for older players in 1989. He even scored in the final match. There's a story that Rivellino once scored the fastest goal in football history. He supposedly scored right from the kick-off because the opposing goalkeeper was still praying!
Before the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Rivellino shared his thoughts. He said it was "absurd" to play games in Manaus. He felt the city was too hot and humid for players.
Honours and Awards
Rivellino won many titles and awards during his career.
- Corinthians
- Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 1966
- Fluminense
- Campeonato Carioca: 1975, 1976
- Al Hilal
- Saudi Premier League: 1978–79
- King Cup: 1980
- Brazil National Team
- Individual Awards
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team player: 1970
- Bola de Prata Brazilian Championship All-Star Team: 1971
- World XI: 1971
- CONMEBOL All-Star Team: 1973
- Bronze ball South American Footballer of the Year: 1973, 1976
- Silver ball South American Footballer of the Year: 1977
- FIFA 100 Greatest Living Footballers: 2004
- Premio Golden Foot Award (Football Legend Award): 2005
- World Soccer: 38th Greatest Player of the 20th Century
- IFFHS Brazilian Player of the 20th Century (12th place)
- Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame
Images for kids
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Rivellino (left) playing in Saudi Arabia in 1979
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Rivellino with Brazil in 1974
See also
In Spanish: Roberto Rivellino para niños
