This one is CLASSIC! Rivaldo won the Ballon d'Or, he won the World Cup, he scored some of the greatest goals in history — and then he pulled the WORST dive in football history at the 2002 World Cup. The ball hit his KNEE, but he fell to the ground holding his FACE like he was shot. Unbelievable!
Country: Brazil Position: Forward / Attacking midfielder Career: 1991-2015 Clubs: Santa Cruz, Mogi Mirim, Corinthians, Palmeiras, Deportivo, Barcelona, AC Milan, Olympiacos, Bunyodkor, Kabuscorp, São Caetano
The Rap Sheet
- Performed the most infamous dive in World Cup history vs Turkey in 2002 — ball hit his knee, he held his face
- Got Turkish player Hakan Ünsal sent off with his Oscar-winning acting performance
- FIFA fined him only 11,670 Swiss Francs — the cheapest punishment for the biggest cheat
- Was already a Ballon d'Or winner (1999) when he decided to become a professional actor
- Despite being one of the most talented players ever, this dive defined his legacy for millions of fans
The Verdict
Rivaldo had more talent in his left foot than most players have in their entire body. But that dive in 2002? It was so bad, so shameless, that even Brazilians were embarrassed. You don't need to cheat when you're THAT good, but Rivaldo did it anyway!
Tomorrow: #27 — Stay tuned for the next villain!
