World Cup Intel: The Craziest Moments In The History Of The Tournament

The Original Ronaldo Gets His Revenge

Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Brazilian soccer superstar Ronaldo silenced his critics in 2002 with an epic World Cup performance. He scored eight goals in the tournament, including two in the final, to win the Golden Boot and World Cup title. Before then, critics claimed he couldn’t stand up to the pressure of international competition.

The unwarranted criticism came after a poor 1998 World Cup Final performance. Ronaldo played a crucial match despite having a seizure hours before the game. Flash forward to 2002. Ronaldo returned from a devastating knee injury to play the tournament. His toughness was never questioned again.