Brazilian legend Rivaldo believes he would be considered the best in the world if he were playing at his peak at the moment.

The 43-year-old last month made a comeback in the Brazilian second tier at Mogi Mirim, the club at which he is president. Battling to save the side from relegation it has been a dream return for the 1999 World Player of the Year, who even set up his son Rivaldinho in a 3-1 over Macae.

After a successful comeback Rivaldo believes that he would be considered even better if he was at his peak now, rather than in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when he competed with the likes of Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo for the title of the world’s best.

Rivaldo told Globo Esporte: “If my time was today, I’d bet with anyone that I would be the best player in the world two or three times. I’m sure I would score 50 goals per season.”

The forward’s record haul for a season was 34 in 2000/01 but Rivaldo is convinced the standard of football is lower today than it was when he was in his pomp.

“Football today is very different from before,” he added. “The quality was much better before, in Brazil and worldwide, such as Spain and Italy. You see how football is not good when [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the best today, are scoring 50 goals in the championship.

“This shows that the level [of football] is lower. Even for the best in the world, you should not being scored 50 goals in 38 games.”

Rivaldo suggested he is likely to make a definitive retirement in December, after the end of the Serie B season. Mogi Mirim are currently heading up the table but still find themselves in 17th place, three points clear of safety.