Former Brazil striker Bebeto is joining ex-teammate Ronaldo on the 2014 World Cup organising committee.
Bebeto, who helped Brazil win the 1994 World Cup, is the final member appointed to the committee’s administrative council, which also includes Brazilian federation president Ricardo Teixeira.
“Ronaldo and Bebeto did a lot for the national team on the field,” Teixeira said Thursday in a statement. “Now they will work together to make sure the World Cup in Brazil is a success.”
Teixeira is also the president of the local organising committee.
“It’s as if I had scored my first goal or was summoned to the national team for the first time,” Bebeto said. “I will give my best effort to help make the World Cup the best ever.”
Bebeto and Ronaldo were invited to the administrative council to help spearhead the nation’s preparations for football’s showcase competition two years from now, as well as for the Confederations Cup in 2013. They will help deal with most matters related to the organisation of the events.
Ronaldo, who was appointed in December, played with Bebeto in the 1998 World Cup.
“Now we have a duo of strikers again,” Ronaldo said. “We will do everything we can to make sure this partnership is one of the greatest of our careers.”
The 48-year-old Bebeto, now a state deputy in Rio de Janeiro, was a key player when Brazil won the 1994 World Cup, partnering with Romario on attack. He also started in the 1998 tournament, when the national team lost the final to host France. He was a reserve in the 1990 World Cup in Italy, when Brazil lost to Argentina in the round of 16.
Bebeto scored 43 goals in 81 matches with Brazil.
He thrived with Deportivo La Coruna from 1992-96 in Spain. He played for several top clubs in Brazil, including Flamengo and Vasco da Gama. He also played briefly for Sevilla in Spain and Kashima Antlers in Japan, as well as for Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad.