Rivaldo won the Ballon d'Or in 1999, and he was one of the most complete attackers of his generation. He could do almost anything with a football, and that included beating the best goalkeepers in the world from 12 yards.
At the Camp Nou or at a World Cup, a Rivaldo penalty felt close to a certain goal.
The left foot was the key. Goalkeepers feared it in open play, and they had no easier time with it from the spot. He struck penalties with pinpoint accuracy for Barcelona during their strong spell in the late 1990s, and he kept up an impressive conversion rate across his time at Barcelona, AC Milan and Olympiacos.
He took important penalties for Brazil too, converting crucial spot kicks during World Cup qualifying campaigns.
Why Rivaldo makes the list
Because the technique that made him so dangerous from anywhere on the pitch travelled with him to the penalty spot. The man had the composure and the mentality to score from 12 yards in any situation, and he had a left foot that made it look a little unfair on the goalkeeper.
A true Brazilian penalty artist.
Tomorrow: number 26.
