11 of the greatest wingers of all time

#2 Roberto Rivellino

Rivellino was the inventor of the elastico trick

A Corinthians and Fluminense icon, Roberto Rivelino has long been regarded as one of the finest creative midfielders to have ever graced a football pitch. Known by his impeccably kept mustache and curly hair, Rivellino was the creative heartbeat of Brazil’s 1970 World Cup team, which included players like Pele, Carlos Alberto and Jairzinho.

He was never a popular name in Brazil, with their lack of stand-out wingers, but the Brazilian was one of the best in his position.

His skill and pace were one of the reasons Brazil lifted the 1970 World Cup, thanks to his superb wing play and elegance on the ball, which was a feature of all the teams he was an essential part of.

However, it was Rivellino’s flair and ingenuity that made him famous and loved in equal measure by players, fans and even critics.

The creation or his perfection of the Elastico, a trick that has been used by the likes of Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo, ensured that the Brazilian great left a lasting legacy in the game.