adminRIO DE JANEIRO. – Brazilian soccer legend Rivaldo believes he would win the Ballon d’Or multiple times if he was at his peak in the current era. Rivaldo, who came out of retirement for second-tier Mogi Mirim this month, claimed Fifa’s top individual playing prize in 1999. The 43-year-old, however, is adamant the quality of football has since dropped, pointing to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s scoring exploits as evidence of this. Messi and Ronaldo have collected the past seven Ballon d’Ors between them.
Rivaldo told Globo Esporte: “If my time was today, I’d bet with anyone that I would be the best player in the world two or three times. I’m sure I would score 50 goals per season.”
He added: ”Football today is very different from before. The quality was much better before, in Brazil and worldwide, such as Spain and Italy. You see how football is not good when Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the best today, are scoring 50 goals in the championship.”
“This shows that the level [of football] is lower. Even for the best in the world, you should not being scored 50 goals in 38 games.” — AFP.
Online Reporter