PACHUCA — The world champion with Brazil in the World Cup in Mexico 70, Roberto Rivelino, criticized the current selection of his country and assured that the DNA of «La Canarinha» was lost.
Rivelino, who will be inducted into the Soccer Hall of Fame in Pachuca, explained that “I don’t see an evolution, but rather a regression. Brazilian football is going through a technically difficult moment”.
The Brazilian mentioned that in the last World Cup his representative “didn’t play great football. They have to see those values from before and return to their origins. We are worried because football in Brazil has always been attacking and creative and now it is not”.
In the presence of Cafu, who won two world titles, the former midfielder assured that the best team in history was Brazil in 1970.
“When you’re world champion it’s hard not to say that your team is the best, but I didn’t say it, everyone says it. The selection of 70 is considered the best of all time and I am proud to be able to participate in that selection with individual values”, he said.
In the same way, he thought that the Argentine Leo Messi cannot be compared with his former teammate, Pelé.
“For me, Pelé is from another planet, he is from another world. I don’t have to compare Pele to any other player. I have not had the opportunity to see in another player what Pelé did, but Messi is a wonderful player and one of the best players in the world”, he stated.