With an impeccable campaign, with 100% success rate, the Brazilian National Team led by Luiz Felipe Scolari conquered the World Cup pentacampeonato on June 30, 2002, in the World Cup held jointly by South Korea and Japan. In the competition, Ronaldo’s star shone, being elected by FIFA as the best player in the world that year.
Ronaldo had suffered two very serious injuries in the 1998-2002 cycle. He was out of action for almost two years and came back with mastery. He was the top scorer of the World Cup, with eight goals, and scored the two goals in the final, in Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Germany, at the International Stadium in Yokohama, in front of 69,000 fans.
But the Brazilian National Team did not depend only on Ronaldo. Other players had an outstanding performance, such as Rivaldo, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Roberto Carlos and Cafu. In fact, the entire team had a very good performance that justified Brazil’s title, including those who were among the substitutes and came in during the matches.
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The team started its journey by beating Turkey 2-1 in Ulsan, South Korea, with goals from Ronaldo and Rivaldo. Next, they thrashed China 4-0 in Seogwipo, still in South Korea, with goals from Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho Gaúcho and Roberto Carlos.
Already qualified for the next phase, the team inflicted another thrashing, 5-2 against Costa Rica, in the last group stage match. This was the game in which Luiz Felipe Scolari gave opportunities to several athletes who had not yet played. Ronaldo (2), Rivaldo, Edmílson and Júnior scored the goals for the team in the match that marked Brazil’s farewell to South Korea.
In the round of 16, Brazil faced Belgium in Kobe, Japan, and won 2-0, with goals from Ronaldo and Rivaldo. Thus, they advanced to the quarterfinals, for one of the most emotional games of that World Cup. The opponent, England, opened the scoring in Shizuoka. But Rivaldo equalized and the team turned the match with a spectacular goal from Ronaldinho Gaúcho, on a free kick.
In the semifinal, the team played again against Turkey. The match, in Saitama, was quite tense and with moments of balance. It was up to Ronaldo to ensure Brazil’s presence in the final, with the only goal of the confrontation.
Days later, in Yokohama, there was the expectation of how the clash between two giants of world football would be. After a first half with chances for both sides, the Brazilian National Team imposed itself in the final half and reached the 2-0 victory with two goals from Ronaldo.
The 23 champion players of 2002: goalkeepers Marcos, Dida and Rogério Ceni; fullbacks Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Belletti and Júnior; defenders Roque Júnior, Edmílson, Lúcio and Anderson Polga; defensive midfielders Gilberto Silva, Kléberson and Vampeta; midfielders Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Ricardinho, Kaká, Juninho Paulista and Denílson; and forwards Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Luizão and Edílson.
