More than 25 years later, Roberto Carlos remains marked by the scene he experienced with Ronaldo before the 1998 World Cup final.
Since 2002, the World Cup has irremediably escaped Brazil, despite having been crowned five times in its history. “ In Brazil, winning the World Cup is an obligation. It is an opportunity to bring joy to the people, many of whom live in poverty. The players therefore have a huge responsibilitynarrates Roberto Carlos. During the tournament, we saw videos of people back home who didn't sleep or got up at dawn to watch our matches and that gave us the strength to go to the end. »
Four years earlier, the Seleçao had experienced a nightmare in France, beaten in the final of the 1998 World Cup by the euphoric Blues and carried by a stratospheric Zinedine Zidane (3-0). “ Our mistake was to have thought that we would win this final without problem, but unfortunately for us Zizou scored the only two headed goals of his career that evening “, whispers the legendary Canonnier Auriverde side defender in an interview with L'Equipe.
“Ronaldo faced enormous pressure”
Just before this match passed down to posterity in the French collective memory, the Brazilians had almost experienced a tragedy and lost their best asset at the time: the phenomenon Ronaldo. On the very day of the final, the legendary striker, who played for Barça, Real and both Milan in particular, fell ill – possibly an epileptic seizure – and failed to start the final match of the 1998 World Cup on the bench.
« At first I thought he was playing a joke, but I quickly realized it was serious.remembers Roberto Carlos, roommate of an R9 who fell before his eyes. I ran to get our doctor. “Ronnie” was a star and he faced enormous pressure. I think if he had been in full possession of his means, we would have won. When there was this shock with Barthez (in the first period, editor’s note), honestly, I thought he was dead. What a bad day… »
France
