When you listen to the glories of Diego Maradona and all the titles that he won, can you imagine who your great idol was? Can you imagine who your inspiration was to be one of the greatest soccer players in history, as well as conquering the world? Probably not.
But what if I told you that this idol was Brazilian? He had a respectable moustache and played a lot of ball? I grew up like an Argentine idolizing a brazilian named Rivelino, whose name is Rivelino.
Rivelino For me, he was everything I wanted to be as a footballer. Yes, Roberto Rivelino, one of the greatest players in the history of Brazil. The midfielder very intelligent midfielder who set up plays and sometimes a left winger with a cannon at his feet.
Rivelino, with two "Ls", was born on the first day of the year in São Paulo, in 1946. Son of a traditional family of European immigrants who came from southern Italy and who together brought their good customs from the Old Continent. Soccer was never an option for Rivelino, since the customs of his family was to work in a factory, have children and support the family.
Rivelino never wanted that for his life. So, hiding from his parents, he started playing ball at a club amateur club in São Paulo called Atlético Indiano. His passion for soccer was so great that the director of a futsal club called Esporte Clube Banespa saw the boy Riva playing ball and was impressed by his skill.
So he invited him to play indoor soccer at his club, which made him develop an enormous talent for dribbling and controlling balls. A lot of influence of his Italian family, his first test was at Palmeiras in 1962. The kid was sure he would start his soccer career at that moment, but alas, Palmeiras' coaching staff, led by Mário Trava, Aline, without having changed clothes yet, dismissed him because they didn't like him, besides thinking it was a waste to spend money paying for his tickets by bus to the CT.
Rivelino was very indignant, frustrated, while his parents said that it was totally wrong, that his dream was nothing more than a child's delirium. Rivelino, in the same instant, cut all his ties with Palmeiras and had only one thing in mind to use all his hatred, all his frustration, to become one of the greatest of world soccer and prove how wrong Palmeiras was wrong. But fate meant that the following Sunday Palmeiras face in a decisive match the Banespa team.
Rivelino was the name of the game and put the brakes on Aline, who dismissed Rivelino. He watched everything from the stands and tried to convince the boy to go for another test at Palmeiras, but no chance. He had already rejected more than three times.
So he started training twice a day during rest hours, while delivering newspapers in the capital of São Paulo. On weekends, it was all about soccer. And it was there, at the amateur club, that Rivelino received the opportunity of a lifetime to try out for Corinthians.
José Castelli, the great idol of Corinthians' history, was in charge of the technical of the youth teams. When he laid eyes on that hairy, slight, fast and with a kick so hard with his left leg that he could burst the ball, saw that he was very different from all the others who were there. He immediately sent his assistants to take Rivelino's picture.
Three for four, to make his registration form and sign as the newest player of Esporte Clube Corinthians Paulista. His dream had finally come true. He was a professional footballer and with a contract in his hands.
The most important and most impressive, is that not only has his dream has been realized, his greatest relief was not having to deliver newspapers until 23:00, which was customary. At the age of 18 age, in 1964, Rivelino was already the center of attention. Even starting on the bench, when when he took to the field, it was a show.
Fans came from all over Brazil of Brazil just to see the kid play. And no wonder. He had a gift in his feet that left everyone open-mouthed.
Everyone there already knew that Rivelino would be one of the greatest players in Brazilian history. Just because of the ease with which he could to make short dribbles on opponents, playing on a pitch full of holes and with very poor quality grass, thanks to his time playing futsal which allowed him to develop all these techniques. It was only a matter of time for Rivelino to to make the first team and become as the team's star player.
In 1965, at the age of 19, Rivelino made his first-team debut Timão shirt against Santa Cruz. Corinthians beat the team from Pernambuco 3-0, with the picture of debutant Rivelino. Very quickly, he began to attract a lot of attention of all his rivals for his skill and the beautiful soccer he played.
It was right at the start of his career that he began to popularize dribbling of the elastic band that many people know today by Ronaldinho Gaúcho, who would become so famous over the years. Back then, Corinthians were going through very difficult times to stand out from the crowd. It wasn't going to be easy for young Rivelino.
Santos were getting bigger and bigger and conquering everything. Rivals Palmeiras were very strong. They were the only team capable of rivaling with Pelé's Santos.
Most of the teams from Rio de Janeiro were also coming on strong, not to mention Tostão's Cruzeiro, who were a machine and a half. Rivelino made his debut for the Brazilian national team in a friendly against Arsenal. 15 days later, he scored his first goal against Hungary.
Returning to Brazil from the national team, would set up balls for the world champion, Mané Garrincha, who was at Corinthians at the time. However, the only title he ended up won not only that year, but also for his entire at Corinthians, was the Rio-São Paulo Cup, which was a title shared with three other teams who were tied on points, due to a lack of organization in the CBF calendar. And that's not new.
During the 1966 World Cup, which was won by England, even so, Rivelino was a star player who played for 474 games, 238 wins and 114 goals. All this in the Corinthians shirt alone. And remember, playing as a midfielder.
The year was 1970. Brazil had had a horrible campaign four and a half years earlier under coach Vicente Feola being eliminated in the first round. At the time, the CDB, which was the CBF, was already very unhappy with the tactics of Feola's team, who was already showing increasingly outdated in soccer at the time.
So they decided to fire him and hire João Saldanha, who also didn't have much success with the Brazilian national team and was soon fired. Brazil's redemption was now led by Mário Jorge Zagallo and had the name of a young man on his list, wanting to show a lot of service. Roberto Rivelino As much as his position was occupied by Jairzinho and Tostão on the pitch, he had gigantic competition to appear on coach João Saldanha.
It wasn't until Saldanha left the national team to Zagallo's command that Rivelino finally took over the starting line-up, in a new formation that allowed the joint line-up of Jairzinho, Tostão, Gérson, Pelé and him, Rivelino. He wasn't fast, but he was very clever in getting the ball to the strikers' feet, when he was also very well accompanied, with a book of short dribbles and a very strong shot. It was time for the 70 World Cup, in Mexico.
It was time to shine and show his idol Pelé that he wasn't the only one who would carry the name of the national team on his back. It was there that he let his moustache grow into a promise that if he won that Cup, he would never shave his moustache again. But his promise was made and alongside the greatest legends of world soccer, Rivelino shone brightly in Mexico.
Even though he didn't want to play on the left wing, the star made his mark right from the start against Czechoslovakia, scoring a free-kick in a 4-1 victory. It was very difficult to hold off the 70s team because they were very disciplined and it seemed that all the pieces were fitting together in Zagallo's scheme were meant to be there. In the quarter-finals, Rivelino scored another 4-2 win against Peru.
The star's last goal at the World Cup was in the tense semi-final against Uruguay, when he put the final numbers on the game, with a shot off an assist from Pelé, which secured O3A1 and a place in the final. The celebrations, full of anger and joy were the face of the Brazilian fans who were ecstatic at every victory for Brazil. The decision came down to an elastic between the legs of the Italian defender, a yellow card, the 4-1 win over Italy and the World Cup for the greatest team in the history of the planet.
After the end of the match, the emotion was so great that he fainted in midfield and was rescued by the Mexican fans themselves, who invaded the stadium to celebrate. At that World Cup, Rivelino earned the Mexican fans the nickname patada for the power and precision of his shots on goal. And it was no wonder, since that team, at that moment, had already was considered by far the greatest team that would ever exist in the history of soccer.
And Rivelino, the star, the boy who used to deliver newspapers until late at night in the capital of São Paulo, was reaching his peak and won his most important title in his career, world champion. And now his promise had to be kept and he couldn't cut his mustache anymore. Zé Maria, national team full-back and Corinthians, who also had a mustache, wanted to cut it off, but Rivelino wouldn't let him let him cut and shave his moustache.
Returning to Corinthians after the 70 World Cup, Rivelino grew a bigger moustache. his fame and the hopes for a title. However, in the terrible year of '74, without Pelé in the national team and after Brazil had been eliminated the World Cup to Cruz's Netherlands and subsequently losing to Poland for third place, Germany ended up winning the title that year.
Not even his skill, his genius, his explosive left-footed shot, fame and the world title of 70 were able to hold the star at Parque São Jorge after December 22nd of that year. It was the final of the Campeonato Paulista. Corinthians were already on a fast 20 years without winning a title.
The stadium was packed, the tension was enormous. Rivelino, with the responsibility of the world on his shoulders, took to the field knowing that every touch of the ball could be historic. The draw in the first game had been a drop of hope, but fate, in its unpredictability, set up a different ending.
When the final whistle blew and the scoreboard of the second match showed a 1 to 0 for Palmeiras, a deafening silence fell over the stadium. It was as if time had stopped and the sadness spread like a wave. Rivelino, the hero, The idol, felt the weight of defeat.
But even in pain, he stood firm and his determination remained unshaken. That moment of deep sadness marked the end of one era and the beginning of another. After the match, Rivelino was unfairly branded as the ultimate villain of the lost match.
The accusation was cruel. He would have cowered, surrendered the game and been blamed for the defeat. To make matters worse, a photo taken in a moment of sadness showed Luís Pereira, Palmeiras defender, consoling Rivelino during the match.
This image was used as evidence by the board of supposed cowardice, completely distorting the truth. Rivelino, the idol, the star, has been transformed into a target for the frustration of all Corinthians. The fans, in their revolt, couldn't see beyond the defeat.
Riva had no choice but to leave Corinthians, the club he loved so much. It was a betrayal that cut deep, an open wound in the soul of a man who dedicated his heart to Corinthians. And so, in the midst of the greatest injustice that the Fiel could commit against one of their greatest heroes, Rivelino left.
But fate, always ironic, awaited the next chapter. An unplanned revenge, but that time would take care of as the last act of a drama that had not yet come to an end. Practically expelled from Corinthians, Rivelino agreed his transfer to Fluminense, who were starting to assemble a great team in that year of '75.
As fate would have it that the star player's debut with the was to be a friendly match against Corinthians. against Corinthians. Riva didn't forgive his former club and put on a show.
4-1 to Fluminense, against six goals. A hat trick from him was an omen of things to come. Alongside Félix, Marco Antônio, Paulo, César Caju, Manfrini, Gil, Rivelino won his dream title because the '75 Carioca Championship, in that rival season, scored against Vasco one of the most beautiful goals of his career.
When he put an elastic between his marker's legs, passed two more and dinked the ball into the goal. Genius stuff. Like a giant, something only Rivelino could do.
Anyway, it was December 5, 76, a date that would remain eternal in the memory of soccer lovers. More than 70,000 Corinthians crossed and tore the heart out of Brazil, flooding Rio de Janeiro with a sea of hope and passion. Corinthians' official supporters are now organizing a caravan to Rio de Janeiro, where on Sunday Corinthians face Fluminense in one of the semi-final matches of the national championship.
They came to witness a semi-final of the Brazilian Championship, that promised to be more than just a game, but an exciting chapter in the history of sport. They came to witness a semi-final of the Brazilian Championship, which promised to be more than just a game, but an exciting chapter in the history of soccer. Fluminense, with a full squad and made up of stars, were undoubtedly the favorites.
But Corinthians with a lot of race, humility, was determined to give their lives for that game. The stage was set and the drama was about to unfold. Rivelino, the maestro of Fluminense, faced the club who gave him the chance when nobody believed in it.
The club of his heart. When he scored his first goal, it was as if fate was writing a tragic poem. But the poetry turned into silence when Corinthians equalized.
The game, now tied, would be decided on penalties. The drama that no heart could bear at that difficult moment. Riva, with her heart torn between the past and the present, looked at the Corinthians fans.
The suffering and beloved fans who have traveled a long way to see their team win and refused to take the penalty. Perhaps it was the weight of history, the love for the club that gave him the opportunity to help his poor family. Or simply the fear of being the enemy of his former passion.
In the end, Rivelino ended up watching his team being eliminated, while the sea black and white of the Maracanã stands Maracanã exploded in celebration. In 78, it was World Cup year again. But unfortunately, Rivelino opted for just three games because he was still injured and had already lost his position to Zico.
He then watched Brazil eliminated again in the semi-finals, only this time he secured third place against Italy. After recovering from his injury, which almost ended his career in soccer, Rivelino decided to leave Brazil in '78 and earn money to end his career playing in Saudi Arabia. On UOL, over there, won a few titles, including the national championship for one club.
But there, the player practically hid from the media and the fans until he ended his career in '81. At the age of 35, Rivelino went down in history as one of the most talented midfielders in world soccer and one of the sport's greatest left-footed players, capable of making any art, dribble or any move with his magic leg, including the elastic band that he himself invented. With one World Cup in his long career as one of the greatest players in the history of world soccer.
Several club titles, as well as individual awards Rivelino said When he retired I was part of the greatest team in the history of soccer and I won a World Cup. I won a few club titles, but not at Corinthians. You know what I'd trade for a title at the club that launched me into the world, at the club that gave me the chance to fulfill my dream, at the club that I love and will always love until death.
