La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Sebastiano Vernazza feels the late Gigi Riva ‘would have been like Kylian Mbappé in today’s football’ as he ‘needed space’ to cut inside from the left wing.
Italy is mourning legendary Italy striker Gigi Riva, the Azzurri’s all-time top scorer and one of the most iconic players in the history of La Nazionale, who died in Cagliari on Monday, January 22, 2024.
Riva helped Italy win their first European Championship in 1968 and led the Azzurri to a 1970 World Cup Final lost against Pelé’s Brazil in Mexico.
Not all young football fans know the influence Riva had in Italian and world football, so journalist Sebastiano Vernazza explained who the legendary striker was, making a comparison to today’s game.
Vernazza said Riva should not be compared to great centre forwards such as Erling Haaland, Harry Kane or Robert Lewandowski as the former Azzurri star “needed space” to cut inside from the left wing.
“If Riva had trained with today’s tools, he would have been as unstoppable as Kylian Mbappé,” noted Vernazza.
“He had strength, power and a sense for spectacular goals such as volleys or bicycle kicks.”
Perhaps, the only difference between Riva and Mbappé is that the Italian was left-footed, while the PSG superstar is right-footed.
Vernazza feels Riva would have deserved to win the Ballon d’Or but finished second in 1969 after Milan legend Gianni Rivera, who had led the Rossoneri to a European Cup, today’s Champions League.
Riva finished third in the 1970 Ballon ‘Or ranking after Gerd Muller and Bobby Moore.
“Riva never won the Ballon d’Or because he remained loyal to Cagliari and Sardinia,” wrote Vernezza.
“The Scudetto won with Cagliari in 1970 was exceptional, but still not enough. In order to see Riva succeed, Italy should have beaten Brazil in the World Cup Final.”
Rip.🙏❤️ Legend