Brazilian star Rivaldo extends contract with Olympiakos
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-31 18:30

ATHENS, Greece _ Brazilian star Rivaldo has renewed his contract with Greek league leader Olympiakos.

"In appreciation of his contribution over the last two years, Olympiakos' chairman Socratis Kokkalis has agreed to renew his contract for one more year," the Piraeus club said in a statement Friday.

The announcement did not reveal Rivaldo's new salary, but daily newspaper Sportime reported that the 34-year-old former World Player of the Year would get euro1.8 million (US$2.1 million).

"There are very few players like him in the world," Kokkalis said of the midfielder.

Olympiakos tops Greece's first division with 66 points, nine ahead of rival Panathinaikos and AEK, with five games left in the 30-round league.

"This is exactly what I wanted," Rivaldo told Sportime after his signing ceremony.

Rivaldo, who has scored seven goals this season, has a viral infection and is due to be sidelined for two weeks.