Brazil striker Ronaldo was the face — and the dodgy haircut — of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea and he lived up to expectations in the final against Germany.
The prolific striker had already scored six times in the tournament before the first ever World Cup meeting between the two perennially successful sides. And Ronaldo, who had suffered heartbreak in the 1998 final against France, scored both goals as his exciting Brazil side beat the dour Germans 2-0 in Yokohama.
SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH FULL HIGHLIGHTS
The first goal, on 67 minutes, came courtesy of an unlikely error by the tournament’s best goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn. The veteran German stopper spilled a tame Rivaldo effort into the six-yard box and was slow to recover, allowing Ronaldo to poach the opener.
The result was secured when Brazil produced a classy second strike with 11 minutes to go. Manchester United-bound midfielder Kleberson made a weaving run up the right wing before delivering a square pass to the edge of the area, where a sublime Rivaldo dummy gave Ronaldo the space to provide a slide-rule finish into the bottom corner.
Brazil’s fifth World Cup title was a victory for the football purists, with the Selecao boasting the mesmerising attacking trio of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, while famed full-backs Cafu and Roberto Carlos raided thrillingly on the flanks.
Germany, meanwhile, had done brilliantly just to reach the final with a side boasting the likes of Torsten Frings, Jens Jeremies, Marco Bode and Oliver Neuville, although they were unfortunate star man Michael Ballack missed the final through suspension.
Watch highlights here:
