Name

Vitor Barbosa Ferierra 'Rivaldo'

Date of Birth

19.04.1972 (Paulista, Brazil)

Height

1.86m

Position

Playmaker

Nationality

Brazilian

1 x Brazilian League : 1994
1 x Paulista Championship : 1996
2 x Spanish Championship : 1997-1998, 1998-1999
1 x Spanish Cup : 1997-1998
1 x Italian Cup : 2002-2003
2 x Greek League : 2004-2005, 2005-2006
2 x Greek Cup : 2004-2005, 2005-2006
1 x European Cup : 2002-2003
1 x European Super Cup : 2003
2 x Copa America : 1997, 1999
1 x World Cup : 2002
1 x FIFA World Player of the Year : 1999
1 x European Footballer of the Year : 1999
1 x World Soccer Player of the Year : 1999
 

Season

Team

Games

Goals

Assists

Position

1993

Corinthians

19

11

-

3rd

1993

Mogi Mirim

27

9

-

-

1994

Palmeiras

29

13

-

1st

1994

Corinthians

22

6

-

-

1995

Palmeiras

45

17

-

5th

1996

Palmeiras

30

23

-

7th

1996-1997

Deportivo

41

21

-

3rd

1997-1998

Barcelona

34

19

-

1st

1998-1999

Barcelona

37

24

-

1st

1999-2000

Barcelona

31

12

-

2nd

2000-2001

Barcelona

35

23

-

4th

2001-2002

Barcelona

20

8

-

4th

2002-2003

Milan

22

5

6

3rd

2003-2004

Cruzeiro

11

2

-

13th

2004-2005

Olympiakos

23

12

-

1st

2005-2006

Olympiakos

22

7

-

1st

 

Corinthians

41

17

-

0.41 GPG

 

Mogi Mirim

27

9

-

0.33 GPG

 

Palmeiras

104

53

-

0.51 GPG

 

Deportivo

41

21

-

0.51 GPG

 

Barcelona

157

86

-

0.55 GPG

 

Milan

22

5

4

0.23 GPG
 

Cruzeiro

11

2

-

0.18 GPG
 

Olympiakos

45

19

-

0.42 GPG
 

European Cup

70

30

-

0.43 GPG
 

UEFA Cup

7

5

-

0.71 GPG
 

Brazil

74

34

-

0.46 GPG

 

Totals

599

218

-

0.47 GPG
 
After two outstanding seasons with Palmeiras Rivaldo was expected to lead Brazil's
Olympic team to football glory but they lost 3-4 to Nigeria at the semi-finals stages
in one of the great international matches of all time and Rivaldo bore the brunt of
the criticism back home.

Rivaldo was an instant hit in Spain and was quickly snapped up by Barca after scoring
21 goals in his debut season for Deportivo. 43 goals and two La Liga titles later he
was crowned World and European footballer of the year.

The controversial sale of Figo to Real Madrid brought Barca's dominance of Spanish
football to an abrupt end. Rivaldo became increasingly frustrated with coach Luis
Van Gaal's insistence that he play in a wide midfield position. In his final match for
the club Rivaldo completed a hat-trick against Valencia with a stunning overhead
kick, sealing fourth place and thus a champions league birth for the cash strapped club.

Despite outstanding performances for Brazil's successful World Cup winning squad
that summer Barcelona were desperate to get the expensive Rivaldo off their books
(he was costing the club £5 million in wages every year) and following a lack of
interest they were forced to release him on a free transfer.

He joined Milan but after a bright start failed to hold down a first team place and
watched from the bench as his team-mates won the European Cup. He was again
released and eventually returned to Brazil before joining Olympiakos where he has,
once again, picked up silverware.

Key Attributes : Dribbling, flair, shooting