'The player is not to blame, but the coaching staff, because they know the weight of this shirt': Rivaldo criticises Brazilian team for giving Lucas Paqueta No 10 shirt for Argentina clash
- Rivaldo has slammed the Brazilian coaching staff for their use of the no10 shirt
- AC Milan's Lucas Paqueta wore the infamous shirt in Brazil's defeat to Argentina
- Rivaldo said the shirt needed more 'respect' and 'doesn't belong on the bench'
- Pele, Kaka, Ronaldinho and Neymar have all donned football's biggest jersey
- Rivaldo believes Paqueta should 'have been protected' and not worn the shirt
Brazilian legend Rivaldo has slammed Brazil's coaching staff after their 1-0 defeat to Argentina on Friday.
Rivaldo admitted he was 'very sad' to see AC Milan midfielder Lucas Paqueta don the infamous number 10 shirt that has been worn by legends of the past.
Paqueta, who made his tenth appearance for Brazil against Argentina, struggled to make an impact for the hosts and was brought off at half-time and Rivaldo took to Instagram to stress the sacred jersey 'is not meant to be on the bench.'
![Rivaldo took to Instagram to vent his frustration with Brazil giving Lucas Paqueta the no10 shirt](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/17/15/21121424-0-image-a-38_1574003870910.jpg)
Rivaldo took to Instagram to vent his frustration with Brazil giving Lucas Paqueta the no10 shirt
![The AC Milan midfielder came in for the injured Neymar but was substituted at half time](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/17/15/21121358-0-image-a-39_1574003900793.jpg)
The AC Milan midfielder came in for the injured Neymar but was substituted at half time
'I watched the match between Brazil v Argentina and was very sad to see what happened with the number 10 shirt,' Rivaldo wrote on Instagram.
'They gave the shirt to Paqueta against Argentina. A shirt that is respected worldwide. This shirt is not meant to be on the bench, let alone go off at half-time, because it is the shirt the world knows and respects because it was worn and honoured by Pele, Rivelino, Zico, Rivaldo, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Neymar.
Brazilian legend Pele made the shirt the most memorable in the world when he burst onto the scene at 17 years old. Having scored 1,281 career goals, he has become a footballing icon often depicted in the very shirt that Rivaldo believes needed more respect.
More recently, Ballon d'Or winners Kaka and Ronaldinho have donned the shirt along with the most expensive player in the history of football, Neymar.
Paqueta has not felt too much pressure, however, as he did score his first international goal in the number 10 shirt back in March in a 1-1 draw with Panama.
![Rivaldo is one of many football legends to have worn the infamous no10 jersey along with Pele](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/17/15/21121364-0-image-a-40_1574004337704.jpg)
Rivaldo is one of many football legends to have worn the infamous no10 jersey along with Pele
'The player is not to blame,' he continued.
'But the coaching staff is, because they know the weight of this shirt and also that it could burn the 22-year-old, who can have a great future with the Brazilian team.
'Just as the coach wanted to protect Rodrygo, who is playing very well at Real Madrid, for this match, he could have protected Paqueta from playing with that shirt.
'We all know that Brazil and Argentina will never be a friendly match.'
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