11 - Vitor Borba Ferreira Rivaldo

vegitot

Senior Member
Must be because we have so many new age fans, but whenever Barca legends are mentioned you always hear Ronaldinho and not much of Rivaldo.

Well, I thought Rivaldo was just as good. Less spectacular but certainly more effective.
Rivaldo was spectacular too. He was better goal scorer than Dinho but Dinho was better playmaker.
He's below dinho
Dinho came at a low point and brought joy back to the fans, but rivaldo is a baller.

Barca just has too many great players in attack.

How we haven't won more, just goes to show how terrible management at the club has been in our history and why I will forever ride with Laporta.
Dinho came at a low point but also in a new era. Great transfers and young talents from Masia came through. Rivaldo played in a very complicated period.
In Turkey mostly, I'd say. Acting in football is bad rep of course, but take Busquets' infamous peekaboo vs. Inter Milan. It's not the end of the world.

Rivaldo's decline I attribute to Van Gaal's return to Barca in 2002. I still remember the shock how LVG got rid off him.
That dive made him lose World Cup Golden Ball. Rivaldo only became Brazil legend after 2002 world cup. Before that, despite winning Copa America and reaching 1998 WC final for his country, he wasn't liked by Brazil fans. Main criticism for Rivaldo was that he could be really selfish on the pitch. He could pass the ball well but tend to take shot from difficult position even his teammates were in better position.
 

Windhook

Well-known member
Main criticism for Rivaldo was that he could be really selfish on the pitch. He could pass the ball well but tend to take shot from difficult position even his teammates were in better position.
I read a while ago that Rivaldo was displeased with the position he was played at under Van Gaal. Limited his abilities, he said. Not a team player, as you said and likely the reason Van Gaal wanted him out of the club.
 

vegitot

Senior Member
I read a while ago that Rivaldo was displeased with the position he was played at under Van Gaal. Limited his abilities, he said. Not a team player, as you said and likely the reason Van Gaal wanted him out of the club.
Rivaldo at that time still played mostly as a LW. Van Gaal wanted him to play there and there was no problem in his first two season. But in 1999/2000 season, Rivaldo asked to play in a 10 role like with Brazil team. Van Gaal refused and benched him for a few matches. After that their relationship was completely destroyed.

Despite of his creativity and passing skill, Rivaldo could be really selfish with his plays. Even Platini once said the last time Rivaldo passed was when he played on street.

But whatever his problem, he became an eternal icon for Barca after the historic hattrick. And same thing for Brazil after 2002 World Cup.
 

Home of Barca Fans

Top