Brazilian Soccer Legend says Brazil Is a Violent Mess ... Don't Come Here for Olympics!

One of the greatest Brazilian soccer players of all time is warning people to NOT come to Brazil for the Olympics ... saying his country is so violent and dangerous, tourists' lives will be at risk.

The man calling out his country is Rivaldo -- who famously won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002. He's also a member of the Brazilian soccer Hall of Fame.

Rivaldo unleashed Sunday after learning of the murder of a 17-year-old girl.

"Things are getting uglier in Brazil," Rivaldo posted on Instagram ... "I advise everyone with plans to visit Brazil for the Olympics in Rio – to stay home. You'll be putting your life at risk here."

He added, "This is without even speaking about the state of public hospitals and all the Brazilian political mess. Only God can change the situation in our Brazil."

The Olympics are set to begin in Rio on August 5th ... despite the violence, water issues, Zika scare and everything else.