Rivaldo, from Tashkent back to Sao Paulo

Former World Cup-winning midfielder Rivaldo has confirmed his return to his native Brazil, having brought a lucrative two-year spell in Uzbekistan to an end in August.

The former Brazil international quit Uzbeki club FC Bunyodkor, who are based in Tashkent, earlier this year and said Thursday he will play in 2011 with Sao Paulo-based Mogi Mirim, of which he is president.

“After settling a few problems I’ve decided that in 2011 I will play for Mogi Mirim, the club where I’m president,” Rivaldo, 38, told his micro-blogging account Twitter.

Rivaldo’s zenith for Brazil came at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea where he scored in the first five games as Brazil went on to claim a fifth trophy.

His five-year spell with Barcelona was arguably the highlight of his club career, Rivaldo winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or award and FIFA’s player of the year in 1999. During that spell he also won two Spanish league titles as well as the Spanish Cup in 1998.

After one season at AC Milan, where he won the Italian Cup and the European Supercup, Rivaldo played at Olympiakos from 2004-2007, AEK Athens in 2008 and then accepted a lucrative offer to play with European minnows Bunyodkor from 2008-2010.