When you consider the astronomical transfer fees commanded by even relatively unknown players in today’s football landscape, it’s almost unbelievable to look back at what some of the greatest players of all time cost in their prime. Take, for instance, the Brazilian icons Ronaldo Nazario and Rivaldo. These two forwards, legends in their own right, moved to Spain’s La Liga in the summer of 1996 for fees that now seem like a typographical error when compared to modern transfer market inflation.
Ronaldo, affectionately known as R9, and Rivaldo, both went on to achieve incredible success, securing a combined three Ballon d’Or awards. Their trophy cabinets also boast numerous club and international accolades, most notably the 2002 World Cup they won together with Brazil. Across their illustrious careers, they netted over 1000 goals combined. Imagine the price tag for such prolific goalscorers in today’s market – easily exceeding £100 million for just one of them! However, back in 1996, the reality was drastically different when they made their pivotal moves to La Liga.
The Shocking Transfer Costs of 1996: Ronaldo and Rivaldo to La Liga
In July 1996, Ronaldo joined FC Barcelona from PSV Eindhoven. Despite a knee injury impacting his 1995/96 season, his goalscoring record at PSV was phenomenal, with 19 goals in 21 appearances. Rivaldo, on the other hand, made his move to Deportivo La Coruna, having already established himself as a star in Brazil playing for Palmeiras. The transfer fees for these future Ballon d’Or winners are truly astonishing when viewed through a modern lens:
- Ronaldo to Barcelona: €15 million (£12.6 million)
- Rivaldo to Deportivo La Coruna: €6 million (£5 million)
Barcelona’s investment in Ronaldo proved immediately fruitful. In his debut season, “O Fenômeno” lived up to his nickname, clinching the Pichichi Trophy as La Liga’s top scorer with an impressive 34 goals in 37 games. He was instrumental in Barcelona’s triumphs in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and the Supercopa de España that season.
Rivaldo and Ronaldo in 2002 (Credit:Getty)
Both Ronaldo and Rivaldo’s careers continued to soar after their initial La Liga moves. Ronaldo famously transferred to Inter Milan in 1997, and later to Real Madrid in 2002, becoming a “Galáctico.” He also played for AC Milan before concluding his career at Corinthians. Rivaldo, after his impressive stint at Deportivo, moved to Barcelona in 1997 effectively replacing Ronaldo and went on to win the Ballon d’Or in 1999. His career path also took him to AC Milan and then to various clubs around the world, including Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan and Kabuscorp in Angola, before eventually returning to Brazil in 2013.
The contrast between the transfer fees of 1996 and today’s market is stark. Now, even players considered average can command fees exceeding £35 million – more than Rivaldo’s *entire career* combined transfer fee of approximately €33 million (£27 million). Ronaldo’s total career transfer fees, though significantly higher than Rivaldo’s, still only reached around €78.5 million (£65.6 million). These figures highlight not just the inflation in football finance, but also how undervalued some of the greatest talents were in a different era.
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Featured Image Credit: Getty