FIFA salutes Corinthian icon Roberto Rivellino for historic World Cup long-range record | OneFootball

With the 2026 World Cup approaching, FIFA has highlighted Corinthians great Roberto Rivellino for an unmatched record, five World Cup goals from outside the box.

Only Diego Forlán, Lothar Matthäus and Lionel Messi sit close behind on four. Long known as "O Chute Atômico" and "Reizinho do Parque", his precision defined two tournaments.

In 1970 in Mexico, he struck from range against Czechoslovakia in the group stage, then Peru in the quarter-final and Uruguay in the semi-final.

Four years later in West Germany, he repeated the feat, scoring past Zaire in the opener, then East Germany and Argentina in the second phase.

Those campaigns also featured fellow Corinthians players, goalkeeper Ado in 1970 and full-back Zé Maria in 1974. Rivellino is among 25 club legends to play at World Cups while on the books.

Despite his stature, his Corinthians exit was painful. After the 1974 Paulista final defeat to Palmeiras, parts of the fanbase and media blamed him, and he soon joined Fluminense.

He was pivotal in Brazil’s 1970 triumph, and featured again in 1974 and 1978. Diego Maradona later described him as the greatest of all time, and ex-midfielder Neto has called him his biggest idol.

For Corinthians he played 474 matches, starting 467, with 144 goals and 120 assists, and won three titles, the 1966 Rio-São Paulo, 1971 Torneio do Povo and 1973 Laudo Natel.

Source: Meu Timao