WORLD CUP ROSSONERI: RIVALDO

Five goals that helped him climb to the pinnacle of world football with Brazil. In the Asian summer of 2002, Rivaldo won his country's fifth World Cup. He boasts an enviable record for the national team, with 76 appearances in the Brazilian shirt, and 35 goals and 7 assists to his name.

Approaching the World Cup as a 30-year-old, this was a second World Cup for the Brazilian. Four years earlier the Brazilian had taken part as a first-team player, with three goals to his name, in the run-up to the 1998 France Final, which he then lost to the hosts. For Rivaldo and several teammates, therefore, the first World Cup of the new millennium represented a unique chance of redemption.

The World Cup in South Korea and Japan began with a perfect game in the group stage for the side led by coach Scolari. In the first match, Rivaldo's goal from a penalty kick - in the 87th minute - was decisive in overcoming Günes' Turkey, winning 2-1. The Recife native repeated the feat in the next two matches: a left-footed winner in the 4-0 win over China and the same in the 5-2 thrashing of Costa Rica.

In the Round of 16, Seleção faced Belgium - unbeaten in their group - at the Kōbe Wing Stadium. The first half was tense but lively, Rivaldo trying to get a feel for the goal with a volley that went over. At the start of the second half, Belgium came close to taking the lead on several occasions, before Rivaldo made it 1-0 in the 67th minute: he latched onto Ronaldinho's assist, controlled the ball and sent a terrifying left-footed shot past the Belgian keeper. Brazil had broken the deadlock, and Ronaldo closed off the Belgian threat in the final minutes and the doors to the quarter-finals opened for Brazil.

On the way to the final in Yokohama, Scolari's side beat England and Turkey in succession. Rivaldo scored again in the 2-1 win over the English, while Ronaldo netted in the 1-0 win that eliminated Turkey. The brazilian pair worked like a charm and Ronaldo's brace in the final against Germany made Seleção champions for the fifth time in their history.

In the same summer, the Brazilian Ballon d'Or winner landed in AC Milan, as he played for two years between 2002 and 2004 in the Rossoneri colours. In the AC Milan shirt, Rivaldo would collect 40 appearances in all competitions, with 8 goals and 6 assists.

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