Olympics 2016: Why Brazil's World Cup winner Rivaldo is urging tourists to stay away from Rio Games?

New Delhi: In a shocking statement, former Brazilian footballer Rivaldo has urged tourists to stay away from the upcoming Rio Olympics for their own safety.

Former Barcelona forward, who represented his country 74 times, took to social media site Instagram to warn the tourists.

“I urge all of you who are planning on visiting Brazil or coming for the Olympic Games this summer to stay in your countries. You are putting your life at risk here.”

Rivaldo, 44, passed the statement, after the death of a 17-year-old who was murdered in Rio at the weekend.

According to The Sun, Ana Beatriz Pereira Frade was shot on Saturday morning by an armed gang on a main road known as the Yellow Line road connecting the city’s international airport with most of the Olympic venues.

Rivaldo, 44, who currently lives with his family in the United States, printed a picture of the dead teenager along with his hard-hitting message which started: “This morning in Rio bandits killed this girl aged 17.

“Things are getting worse all the time in Brazil. Only God can change the situation in Brazil.”

Hoje pela amanhã no Rio de Janeiro os bandidos mataram esta menina de 17 anos. A coisa está cada vez mais feia no Brasil. Aconselho a todos que tem intenção de visitar o Brasil ou vir para as Olimpíadas no Rio, é para que fiquem no seu país de origem. Aqui você estará correndo risco de vida. Isto sem falar nos hospitais públicos que estão sem condições e toda esta bagunça na política brasileira. Só Deus para mudar a situação do nosso Brasil.

A photo posted by Rivaldo Ferreira (@rivaldooficial) on May 7, 2016 at 3:53pm PDT