For Ronaldo, it is a welcome reminder of his redemption.Īfter scoring 44 goals in 47 games in his first two seasons at Cruzeiro, Ronaldo went to USA '94 as a 17-year-old still bearing braces. Twenty years on from victory in Japan and South Korea, Cafu still messages daily as they reminisce about the nation's fifth world title. The Brazil squad of 2002 have a WhatsApp group called 'Penta'. 'It showed the mental strength Ronaldo has to overcome the problems. 'He was fantastic, amazing,' Brazil team-mate Cafu tells BBC Sport. Ronaldo had reclaimed his throne as the greatest among football's pantheon of goal-getters and his iconic grin, like his dazzling feet, lit up TV screens around the globe. He had not only overcome the injury problems that threatened to derail him at Inter Milan but also exorcised the demons that lingered from Selecao's World Cup final defeat against France in 1998, when their star man suffered a seizure before the game. Il Fenomeno had silenced the critics and seemingly defied science. The frenzied celebrations rippled around Yokohama's International Stadium, through a delirious Rio de Janeiro and via millions rejoicing in front of their television screens at home.

Two years later, as the ball nestled into the corner of Oliver Kahn's goal with the same ruthless precision that characterised a whole career, Ronaldo's response was a resounding 'no'.īrazil were world champions.

Was this the end of the game's most devastating forward? There was a collective, anxious intake of breath. The comeback had lasted just six minutes.

Fifa world cup 2002 patch