Rivaldo is regarded as one of the greatest Brazillian players and among the most skillful and creative players of his generation.
41 Facts About Rivaldo
2.
Rivaldo was renowned for his bending free kicks, bicycle kicks, feints, powerful ball striking from distance, and ability to both score and create goals.
3.
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.
4.
Rivaldo went on to play for Cruzeiro, Olympiacos, AEK Athens, Bunyodkor, a loan spell at Sao Paulo, Kabuscorp and Sao Caetano.
5.
In March 2014, Rivaldo announced his retirement from professional football, however since June 2015 he made appearances for Mogi Mirim, before retiring in August 2015.
6.
From 1993 to 2003, Rivaldo played 74 matches and scored 35 goals for Brazil and is the seventh highest goalscorer for the country.
7.
Rivaldo helped Brazil reach the final of the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and won the 1999 Copa America where he was named player of the tournament.
8.
Rivaldo starred in an attacking trio with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho in the 2002 FIFA World Cup winning team.
9.
Rivaldo is an inductee to the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame.
10.
Predominantly left footed, Rivaldo began his professional career at the age of 16, when he signed with Paulistano Futebol Clube in 1989, despite the Paulistano coaches believing him too physically weak to succeed.
11.
Rivaldo only stayed for one season, but nonetheless it proved to be a successful one for both him and the club.
12.
Rivaldo was the joint-fourth top goalscorer of the season, with 21 goals from 41 matches, as Deportivo finished third in the league.
13.
In 1999, Rivaldo was named FIFA World Player of the Year and he received the Ballon d'Or.
14.
An ecstatic Rivaldo ripped off his jersey and started swinging it over his head during his goal celebrations, while Barcelona club president Joan Gaspart broke with convention in the stadium's VIP box by punching the air with both fists and yelling his delight next to the opposition delegation.
15.
Rivaldo signed a three-year deal with the Italian Serie A club Milan in 2002.
16.
Rivaldo came close to signing for Bolton Wanderers in 2004, though Bolton eventually pulled out of the deal.
17.
Rivaldo decided to return to Brazil in early 2004, by appointment of coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo who convinced him to play for the club, becoming Cruzeiro's major signing for the Copa Libertadores.
18.
On 22 July 2004, Rivaldo joined Olympiacos of Superleague Greece.
19.
Rivaldo renewed his contract with Olympiacos for a third year, despite now being 34 years old.
20.
Rivaldo was released by Olympiacos after a dispute with the chairman of the club, Sokratis Kokkalis, who decided that he was too old to continue with the club.
21.
Rivaldo had stated his intention to leave Greece if the ruling went in favour of Olympiakos and AEK Athens were not declared champions.
22.
Rivaldo announced on 25 August 2008 to a Greek Sport Radio Station that he agreed to continue his career at Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan, effective immediately, after what he described as an "extremely tempting contract offer".
23.
In 2009, Rivaldo became the first player in the world to score one, then two, then three, then four goals in four consecutive matches.
24.
Rivaldo scored one goal in the first match and two goals in the second match against Navbahor.
25.
Rivaldo announced on 11 August 2010 on Twitter that he had cancelled his contract with Bunyodkor.
26.
Rivaldo scored on his debut for them in the First Division against Linense with a wonderful goal.
27.
The ball was sent over from the left hand side of the pitch, before Rivaldo controlled the ball and took it over a defender using his left knee, and finished at the near post.
28.
Rivaldo left Kabuscorp in November 2012 after the expiration of his contract.
29.
In January 2013, Rivaldo joined Sao Caetano, signing a deal that ran to December.
30.
In December 2013, Rivaldo joined Mogi Mirim, signing a deal that ran until 2015.
31.
Rivaldo had only made one league appearance for the club when he retired in July 2015.
32.
Rivaldo was selected to represent Brazil at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
33.
The Brazilian team won the bronze medal, but Rivaldo was not selected for the third place playoff.
34.
Rivaldo had not been a part of the victorious Brazilian team at the 1997 Copa America tournament, but was part of the successful defence of that title at the 1999 Copa America.
35.
Rivaldo was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
36.
Rivaldo had been the centre of criticism when Brazil did not win tournaments, ever since the 1996 Olympics.
37.
The ball struck his thigh, but Rivaldo fell to the ground clutching his face.
38.
The first came after Rivaldo's shot was saved by German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn with Ronaldo scoring the rebound, and the second saw Rivaldo fool the German defence with a dummy as the ball ran on to Ronaldo who finished.
39.
Rivaldo was named by Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari as the best player of the tournament.
40.
Rivaldo played 79 minutes before being substituted for Luis Fabiano.
41.
Rivaldo's wiry strength allowed him to bounce off defenders, he was an outstanding dribbler, and he had a left foot that was both educated and thuggish, subtle and a sledgehammer.