Ballon d’Or Winner 1999: Rivaldo- Rags to riches

Rivaldo is a Brazilian that, perhaps unfairly, falls short of being considered in the same echelon as Ronaldo or Ronaldinho for some. Likely due to his frenetic career, a meteoric rise, which saw him move from 3rd division Brazilian football, all the way to the dizzying heights of Barcelona, despite making his first appearance in the Brazilian first division at the late age of 22.

Thrust into Spanish football at 24, he was a late bloomer, unlike compatriot, Ronaldo. But it all looked stacked up against him from a young age, as he grew up in the Favelas in Brazil, starving and malnourished, he lost several teeth and even developed bow-leggedness in his childhood.

Rivaldo’s upbringing was nothing short of tragic, every glimpse of happiness scattered by tragedy, held back by poverty. But, like many children of the Favelas, football was everything. A hobby, a distraction, a way to express oneself, and a tiny but dazzling glimpse of hope. It was life.

In 1989 tragedy struck once again. His father was killed in a road traffic accident, it would surely be somewhat bittersweet as he signed his first professional contract later that same year.

In spite of his gaunt frame and abnormal legs, he signed with  Paulistano Futebol Clube aged 16, though thanks to his physical deformities he was written off almost immediately, coaches considering him far too weak for the game of football.

Unlike many of his Ballon d’Or winning peers, Rivaldo was not a wonderkid starlet, with the young man having to overcome both physical setbacks and a fierce stigma that permeated the minds of uninformed football fans.

Stigmatised yet Undeterred

Even as he aged his frame stayed much the same, and even after a great season on loan at Corinthians, scoring 22 in 63, many still argued he was not fit to play the beautiful game.

It would be at Palmeiras where he’d really shine, winning the league championship and taking home much of the plaudits for his role in helping Palmeiras hold their title as champions.

Rivaldo earnt the Brazilian precursor to the Ballon d’Or, the Bola de Ouro, awarded for being the best player in his position, and by now he could be considered a Brazilian star, on top of Brazilian league football, attracting the attention of multiple European clubs.

Rivaldo’s childhood dream, a dream he’d dared to hope for as a child had already become a reality, but now he stood on the brink of football’s promised land. As European clubs circled him, he’d have to pick the right choice, as many don’t, and wind up a shell of their former selves a few years later after a failed stint at the wrong club for them.

Big sides in Italy were after him, but he had eyes for Spain, and more particularly, Deportivo de la Coruna. The Spanish side had been on a revival, since a slump to Spanish football’s wilderness for years before, only escaping the second tier for the first time since 1973, 5 years earlier in the 1990-91 season.

 Rivaldo proved to be an inspired signing, in conditions where the Brazilian had every right to be nervous. Answering all the questions many had about whether he can succeed despite his physical appearance. Rivaldo set the league alight scoring 21 in 42 in his first season, the catalyst behind Deoprtivo’s 3rd-place finish that season.

Rivaldo however, wouldn’t be playing in Europe with Deportivo next season…

Destined for Bigger Things

When he joined Barcelona for 4 billion Pesetas (26 Million Dollars)  it soon became apparent there was no stopping him. Rivaldo quickly became a club icon, after just 2 years at Barcelona, he had won two League titles, scoring  56 goals in 99 appearances as an attacking midfielder.

The latter season, leading into 1999 would shine brighter than any other, his magnum opus, as Rivaldo, but the final year of the millennium year hadn’t started all that well for the Brazilian.

As the world broke into 1999, Rivaldo was in inconsistent form. With just 6 goals to his name in the first half of the season, Rivaldo had been underperforming by his high standards and was desperate to improve. A humble and driven player, even in his success, he would do all he could to regain his prior form.

Back-to-back Doubles against Alavez and Bilbao curtailed many fears of a drop in confidence, and following goals in the El Classico and Catalan derby, Rivaldo took his tally for the season to a much healthier 15, by the 14th of March.

After single-handedly demolishing Real Oviedo, scoring all his sides goals in a comfortable 3-1 win, he’d signal he was back to form, adding a further 6 goals throughout the rest of the season, taking his tally to 24, finishing top scorer as Barcelona went on to lift the 1998-99 La Liga title.

Carrying the Copa America

Where great players are truly recognised, however, is the international stage, and up to now, Rivaldo had always been overshadowed by his Brazilian counterpart Ronaldo and understandably so. Yet in that year’s Copa America, we’d see Rivaldo on the cusp of his best.

In keeping with much of his life so far, the tournament wouldn’t start all that well for him, as he struggled to impose himself in the group stages, his only goal coming against Venezuela in a 7-0 romp.

Come the knockouts, however, and Rivaldo was suddenly a different beast. Not only was he scoring freely, but he was playing beautiful football, scoring goals worthy of the very best to play the sport.

A sublime free-kick to help knock out rivals Argentina. A snapshot from the edge of the earlier to down Mexico in the Semi-finals and delightful to watch every time he received the ball. There was electricity in the air when he had the ball at his feet, the Brazilian faithful brought it to their feet anytime he had the ball in the opposition half.

In the final, Rivaldo had reached a level in which it all seemed effortless for him. He’d score the opener with a glancing header, but it was his second of the game that really got the crowd going. 

A whipped ball into the box fell straight to Rivaldo, taking the ball in his stride beautifully, beating his marker with his first and only touch, before chagrin on to the ball and finishing with the deftest of chips over the keeper.

It was out-of-this-world football and showcased composure 20 years ahead of its time, the goal now drawing retrospective comparisons to Lionel Messi.  With this goal, he was the joint top scorer, and he and his teammate Ronaldo were both on 5.

Ballon d’Or Triumph

When it came to the Ballon d’Or later that year, there was no contest. Ronaldo may have shared the plaudits at the Copa America, but injury had marred his 1999, limiting R9’s opportunity to deliver quality performances. 

His closest rival was David Beckham, but in truth, despite some claiming he was ‘robbed’ Rivaldo was a player that dazzled with every touch, finding a way to play with flair and finesse, whilst consistently delivering game-changing moments 

He won the Ballon d’Or with 219 points, David Beckham in second gaining 154, and Shevchenko in third achieving just 54 votes. 

Rivaldo was on top of the world. A player that life had done everything to stand in the way of, had been immortalised as one of a select group of the greatest players to ever step foot on a football pitch.

Rivaldo 1998/99 Stats

1999 Ballon d’Or Top 20