2002 World Cup winner and former World Player of the Year, Rivaldo, has announced his retirement from football over the weekend.
The 41-year-old Brazil legend was instrumental in Brazil's 2002 World Cup triumph and also won the Champions League with AC Milan. He spent five years at Barcelona and won the 1998 and 199 La Liga as well as the 1998 Copa del Rey.
In 1999, Rivaldo was named FIFA World Player of the Year and won the Ballon d'Or, but later parts of his career were influenced by injuries and moves to clubs in Greece, Uzbekistan and back in his native Brazil
He played the last games of his career at Mogi Mirim, Sao Paulo, the club where he had started his career in the early 1990s, and recently made the news for playing in the same team as his son Rivaldinho.
The Brazil football legend has now chosen to hang up his boots, after revealing on Instagram:
"With tears in my eyes today I would like first to thank God, my family and all the support, the affection that I received during those 24 years as a player. Today I communicate to all my fans in the world, my history as a player came to the end.
"Just I have to thank the lovely career I have built over this years. There were many obstacles, challenges, waivers, longings, disappointments, but were much greater joys, achievements, growth, change.
"I built my career upon a miracle, leaving in Paulista, no financial resources, no businessman, incentives only of my family, discredited by doctors and trainers, saw a distant dream come true.
"With persistence, dedication and especially with the hand of God, I came to be recognized as the best player in the world, world champion, among many other important titles in the history of football.
"Among trophies, medals, awards and titles, in a land where everything is consumed, here I leave a story, perhaps an example, but surely a testimony that is worth believing and fighting.
"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."
Soccer Laduma wishes a true legend all the best for his future and share some of his greatest goals with you in the attached video.
