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Rivaldo Factfile

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Posted: Monday December 20, 1999 11:42 AM

MADRID (Reuters) -- Factfile on Rivaldo, the 1999 European Player of The Year:

1972: Born April 19, Recife, Brazil. Full name Vito Barbosa Ferreira.

1989: Signs professional terms at the age of 16 with Santa Cruz after impressing local scouts in a junior tournament.

1991: Signs for Brazilian first division club Mogi-Mirim.

1993: Signs for Corinthians. Makes international debut in December, scoring only goal in 1-0 victory over Mexico in a friendly international.

1994: Regular international appearences during early part of the year but is not included in Brazil's World Cup-winning squad.

1994: Signs for Palmeiras. Wins Brazilian league championship.

1996: Wins Sao Paulo state championship with Palmeiras.

1996: Plays as an overage member of Brazil's squad at the Atlanta Olympics, winning bronze medal.

1996: Moves to Spain to join Deportivo Coruna.

1997: Deportivo Coruna finish third in the Spanish first division, and Rivaldo plays in 41 of their 42 league games, scoring 21 goals. Recalled to Brazilian international side against Wales in November after lengthy absence.

1997: Moves to Barcelona in August for $26.7 million.

1998: Barcelona win Spanish League and Cup double. Rivaldo scores 19 league goals in 34 games.

1998: Plays in all seven games for Brazil in France '98 as they reach the final before losing 3-0 to the hosts.

1998: Fifth in the European Player of the Year voting, sixth in FIFA Player of The Year poll.

1999: Wins second Spanish league title with Barcelona, scoring 24 goals in 37 games, the second-highest tally in the Spanish first division.

1999: Wins Copa America with Brazil but gets sent off twice during the tournament.

1999: Voted European Player of the Year by readers of World Soccer magazine.

1999: Voted European Player of the Year by France Football magazine.

 

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