Japan & South Korea 2002: Ronaldo's Redemption — Brazil's Fifth Title
The giants fell early, the hosts defied all expectations, and a goalkeeper's single mistake decided the final. Korea/Japan 2002 was the most unpredictable World Cup in decades — and Ronaldo wrote the perfect ending to his own story.
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June — the first edition ever staged outside Europe or the Americas, and one of the most extraordinary tournaments the competition has ever produced.
The group stage delivered shock after shock. Reigning world champions France failed to score a single goal and were eliminated without winning a match. Argentina, one of the pre-tournament favourites, also went home in the group stage. So did Portugal. Three of the most celebrated nations in the sport, all gone before the knockout rounds had even begun.
The controversy that defined the tournament centred on the host nation South Korea's progress through the knockout stages. Their victories over Italy and Spain were both accompanied by refereeing decisions so contentious — disallowed goals, disputed red cards, a golden goal that may or may not have crossed the line — that they were discussed long after the tournament had ended. South Korea reached the semi-finals, becoming the first Asian side to do so, before eventually finishing fourth.
Brazil, Germany and Turkey were the other semi-finalists. All three came through with minimum-fuss 1-0 victories in their last-four matches — Ronaldo scoring against South Korea, Michael Ballack heading Germany past the United States — before Turkey and South Korea produced a lively third-place play-off, won 3-2 by the Turks.
The final pitted Brazil against Germany, and was decided by a moment of rare fallibility from the tournament's outstanding goalkeeper. Oliver Kahn — imperious throughout the competition and widely considered its best player heading into the final — spilled a Rivaldo shot, and Ronaldo pounced to score. Minutes later, Ronaldo added a second to claim the Golden Boot with eight goals and erase the haunting memory of his collapse before the 1998 final in Paris. Brazil were world champions for a record fifth time.
Top scorer: Ronaldo (Brazil) — 8 goals
Champions squad: Marcos, Cafu, Lúcio, R. Júnior, Edmílson, R. Carlos, Silva, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Kléberson, Dida, Seni, Ricardinho, Belletti, Polga, Júnior, Vampeta, Denílson, Juninho Paulista, Edilson, Luizão, Kaká
Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari
Highest-scoring match: Germany v Saudi Arabia 8-0
Total goals scored: 161 | Average per match: 2.52
Best-attended match: 69,029 — Germany v Brazil (final) | Average attendance: 42,269