"Vítor Borba Ferreira"

Rivaldo Biography – Introduction
Like many other Brazilian players that went big, soccer was the only way for Rivaldo to get out of poverty. But whereas other soccer players came from relative poverty, Rivaldo had to suffer it at its fullest. Fortunately for us, he did end up being a soccer player and he is one of the most important Brazilians to play in Europe over the past decade.
This Rivaldo biography is dedicated to a player that is quickly closing in on his retirement day, but who already left so much behind him.
Rivaldo Biography – Professional Debut in Brazil
1989 was a tragic year for Rivaldo, having lost his father to a road accident and being himself at one point unable to continue playing soccer. Fortunately, later that year, local club Paulista took him on and offered him a professional contract at age 17. He didn't get a chance at Paulista, simply because he was too fragile for professional soccer yet, so he was sold to Santa Cruz FC in 1991 where he played his first matches and scored his first professional goals.
Full name : Vítor Borba Ferreira
Date of birth : April 19, 1972
Place of birth : Paulista, Brazil
Height : 6.1FT - 1.86M
Playing position : Attacking Midfielder
Rivaldo's goals attracted the interest of Mogi Mirim EC, who signed him after a single season at Santa Cruz, but his big break would come in 1993, when one of Brazil's most powerful clubs, Corinthians, signed the young soccer player.
He didn't disappoint the Corinthians fans and he proved to be a decisive soccer player, Rivaldo scoring close to 20 goals in 40 matches in his first (and only) season with the club. 1993 also saw the debut of Rivaldo for Brazil's national side and he even managed to score his first goal, in a friendly against Mexico.
The next season, he found himself switching clubs again, this time for Palmeiras, who were then reigning champions in Brazil. His 2 seasons at Palmeiras were amongst the most successful in his career, Rivaldo's goal tally reaching 53 in 104 matches. This extraordinary goal/match ratio earned him a move to Europe, when Deportivo La Coruna signed him.
Rivaldo Biography – Deportivo and FC Barcelona
His only season with Deportivo was a great deal for both the player and the club. Adapting quite well for a fresh new Brazilian soccer player, Rivaldo managed to score 21 times in 41 matches, becoming the fourth league top scorer that season and making Spanish giants FC Barcelona put a $25 million offer for him on Deportivo's table. Obviously, they accepted and Rivaldo went on to play for the club that would be determinant to his career.
His 5 seasons at Barca were the peak of his career, as Rivaldo's goal tally for the club went over the 100 mark in approximately 170 matches. Winning the Spanish league twice (1998 and 1999) and the Spanish Cup and European Super Cup once (1998 both) opened Rivaldo's taste for trophies and although he did not get anymore with Barcelona, he moved to AC Milan in 2002, just in time to be crowned Champions League winner with the rosso-neri squad.
Season Club Games Goals
1990 Paulista 0 0
1991 Santa Cruz FC 18 8
1992 Mogi Mirim EC 27 9
1993-1994 Corinthians 41 17
1994-1996 Palmeiras 104 53
1996-1997 Deportivo LC 41 21
1997-2002 FC Barcelona 157 86
2002-2004 AC Milan 22 5
2004 Cruzeiro 2 1
2004-2007 Olympiacos 81 43
2007-Present AEK Athens 6 2
Rivaldo Biography – Deportivo and FC Barcelona
His only season with Deportivo was a great deal for both the player and the club. Adapting quite well for a fresh new Brazilian soccer player, Rivaldo managed to score 21 times in 41 matches, becoming the fourth league top scorer that season and making Spanish giants FC Barcelona put a $25 million offer for him on Deportivo's table. Obviously, they accepted and Rivaldo went on to play for the club that would be determinant to his career.
His 5 seasons at Barca were the peak of his career, as Rivaldo's goal tally for the club went over the 100 mark in approximately 170 matches. Winning the Spanish league twice (1998 and 1999) and the Spanish Cup and European Super Cup once (1998 both) opened Rivaldo's taste for trophies and although he did not get anymore with Barcelona, he moved to AC Milan in 2002, just in time to be crowned Champions League winner with the rosso-neri squad.
Rivaldo Biography – Greek Period
His two seasons with Milan weren't very convincing as Rivaldo was not even a first team regular anymore (he was also benched by a string of annoying injuries). In 2004, hungry for more success and a guaranteed first team place, Rivaldo moved to Greek champions Olympiacos, helping them win the league thrice, in 2005, 2006 and 2007 as well as the Cup on two occasions, in 2005 and 2006. the 2007-2008 season will find Rivaldo playing for Olympiacos' rivals, AEK Athens.
Years National Team Games Goals
1993-2003 Brazil 74 34