Former Brazilian legend, Rivaldo has been critical of Brazil’s national team as they played in the 2016 Copa America without a No. 10 for most of the goalless draw against Ecuador on Saturday and said it caused him “great sadness”.
Rivaldo, who won the World Cup with the Selecao, was the main playmaker for Brazil in the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups, where the team finished second and first respectively. The former World Player of the Year also won the Copa America in 1999, as he finished the top scorer of the tournament, while also being named as the best player of the tournament.
As Neymar has not participated in this year’s Copa America due to his participation in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Santos star Lucas Lima was seen sporting the iconic No. 10 jersey for Brazil in this year’s Copa America.
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Brazil have always had a plethora of famous players donning the famed No.10 jersey with players like Pele, Zico, Rivelino, Ronaldinho, Kaka and Rivaldo himself to name a few. But for the first time, Brazil have failed to fill the jersey with a star player.
Rivaldo shared his displeasure through a post on Instagram, which read: "Yesterday I felt great sadness when watching Brazil's game and I saw that the No. 10 was on the substitutes' bench," Rivaldo further added, "Before the shirt was a reference four national team. Though Neymar, our No. 10 is not in the Copa America, the 10 shirt remains with Lucas Lima, a great player, that only received an opportunity 40 minutes into the second half. In my opinion Lucas Lima or Ganso deserve more opportunities."
The post featured photos of players who have adorned the no.10 jersey in the past. He even called for the sacrifice of Benfica striker Jonas, saying that his lack of goals and chances is because Brazil are without a decent playmaker.
"If you don't have a No. 10 on the pitch, the first to be sacrificed will be Jonas, who won't have opportunities at goal because the ball doesn't find him."
Brazil have failed to perform on the big stage for a very long time and they failed to qualify for the finals of the 2014 World Cup that was hosted in their home. The last time Brazil won the Copa America was in the year 2007 and have since failed to even qualify for the semi-finals.
Brazil play Peru in their second game in the group stages on Wednesday, June 8 at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida., having drawn their first game of the 2016 Copa America.
