Rio de Janeiro -
The five-time world champion Rivaldo, fined at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan for diving, sent a message of support to Neymar in the face of the wave of criticism the Seleção star is receiving for his falls in Russia-2018: "If you have to fall from fouls, fall."
"Neymar, play as you've always played and don't worry about the comments from other countries, because many are already home," wrote the 46-year-old former midfielder on his Instagram account.
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"If you have to dribble, dribble. If you have to make a flick, do it. If you have to score a goal, score it. If you have to fall from fouls, fall, and if you have to waste time on the ground, waste it. Because everyone does the same thing," Rivaldo said, following the statements from the Mexican coach after his fall in the round of 16 against Brazil's 2-0 victory on Monday.
"The problem is that you are the man of the Cup and the idol of our country, and unfortunately, this is bothering a lot of people, I don't know why," said Rivaldo, who shared an old photo of himself alongside a current one of Neymar, both wearing the number 10 jersey.
In the first match of the 2002 World Cup, Rivaldo caused the expulsion of a Turkish player by feigning that he had been hit in the face by a ball that had been sent to his leg.
That theatricality, after being verified on video by FIFA, later earned him a fine of 11,500 Swiss francs. (D)