My name is Roberto Rivellino. I own a soccer academy, The Rivellino Sport Center www.rivellino.com.br. I also have a restaurant called “Parada Boa Vista”, located at the top of the “Boa Vista” neighborhood in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
I was born in Sao Paulo, the Capital of Brazil. I grew up in Sao Paulo and had a very happy childhood and played soccer. There were community fields and I had the freedom to play soccer in the streets. Today you don’t have this freedom because of social problems Brazil faces. Since I was a kid I always identified myself through soccer. I always liked soccer and always played. I played indoor soccer for the Bradesco team and the Indiano team. It was different then; in my day, we just liked to play. We played because we loved the game. People saw me play and encouraged me to go professional.
I tried my luck with the Palmeiras soccer team--thanks to an invitation from the Bradesco team. My training with Palmeiras did not go well so I transferred to play with the Corinthians soccer team. This was in 1962. I started my professional career with the Corinthians. I moved up the ranks quickly. I started playing in the Juvenile League in 1964 when they had a tournament for aspiring players. They invited me to play in a tournament.
There is a principle is soccer that says, “You don’t learn how to play soccer, it is a gift from God.” God gives you a gift to play soccer. You can’t teach soccer. Of course you can teach a kid the rules, but you can’t teach him to be good enough to play professionally. I believe professional players have a gift from God. I think God gave me the gift of playing soccer at a professional level.
How did you know you had this gift?
I had the ability since I was young. I was different in the way I played, the way I kicked the ball. There were excellent players at that time, but I knew I was different from other people.
Did everyone know you were the best?
I can’t say I was the best. At that time everyone loved to play on the streets. The street players were very good. But I was different from the other kids. I felt different in the way I behaved on the field, in the way I passed the ball, directed a play, and scored a goal. And so I really set myself apart. I was that kind of player.
What made you a professional player?
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