Barcelona are La Liga champions once more – and Rivaldo has maintained that the season has been a triumph despite falling short in Europe.
Even without the sidelined Lamine Yamal, Barcelona secured a second consecutive La Liga crown with a 2-0 win against Real Madrid in El Clásico. The result means the Blaugrana are crowned champions of Spain for the 29th time in their history, and achieving this against their greatest and most bitter rivals is the icing on the cake.
The triumph over Real Madrid represented a historic milestone, as it marked the first occasion a club had clinched the league championship directly by defeating Real Madrid in an El Clásico. Rivaldo, who netted 130 goals and captured two La Liga titles during his spell at the club, assessed the campaign for Barcelona, who secured the league but fell short in the Copa del Rey and, more significantly, the UEFA Champions League.
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Rivaldo won La Liga twice with Barcelona -Credit:Getty Images
“It’s always important to be a champion,” Rivaldo exclusively told The Mirror U.S. Sports. “Of course, all the fans in Barcelona dream of winning the Champions League again, and they missed the chance to play in the Champions League Final.
“But it’s always important to be a champion. Always. Now, they can become champions and begin thinking about the next one.”
Rivaldo was brimming with praise for his former club, and the 1999 Ballon d’Or recipient highlighted the importance of securing the league against their adversaries. “Barcelona players need to win the title,” Rivaldo added.
“This is their moment. We have to win. We cannot give Real Madrid the chance to win here, in Barcelona. That is not happening today. The title is ours. El Clásico is a huge game, the biggest in the world, and winning the title in this game is incredible. Barcelona players have the desire to get the job done.”
Among the standout performers in Barcelona’s third La Liga championship in four years was Yamal. The young winger is currently sidelined and in a race against time to be fit for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, though he is widely expected to return for Spain’s opening match. Yamal is anticipated to play a pivotal role in Spain’s bid for a first World Cup win since 2010, yet former striker Fernando Morientes cautioned that the teenager cannot shoulder the weight of an entire nation’s expectations alone.
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“Sometimes we lose sight of reality – 18 years is not old enough to lead the Spanish national team,” Morientes exclusively told The Mirror U.S. Sport. “He’s a boy, but he’s got a status in the world of football that makes us all look out for him. I think he’s the figurehead of Spain at the moment.
“But we have to put a bit of responsibility on him and on the team. In addition, I think we have always shown that we are a team that is more governed by the team than by the individual figures. I think that will be the case this year as well.”
Former Real Madrid striker Morientes smiled as he reflected on how effusively he was complimenting Barcelona’s standout player. He added: “In El Clásicos, for example, I don’t wish him the best. But I hope he comes back. I want him to be at his best in the World Cup. That would be good news for Spain.”
