WORLD CUP ROSSONERI: RONALDO

Since its creation in 1930, the World Cup has established itself as the competition that certifies - more than any other - the international stature of legendary players. Looking at the ranking of top scorers in the history of the competition, they are all universally acknowledged as 'the best ever'.

For decades, the top ranking belonged to the 14 goals scored by Gerd Müller between 1970 and 1974. It was an unreachable number both for those who came before - such as Pelé - and those who came after, such as Maradona. The first to surpass the unforgettable Bayern Munich legend was, during the 2006 World Cup, one of the best players in the history of football, who for a brief, but significant, period also played for AC Milan. 

Despite a career influenced by injuries, Ronaldo also managed - more than other of his contemporaries - greatness at World Cup level. After winning the 1994 tournament as an unused sub, his first edition as a major player was France 1998: the bitter end to that story, between falling ill in the hours before the Final against the hosts and going on to lose the match, deserved a different ending.

Injuries suffered between 1999 and 2000 - among other things after winning Copa América as a star player in 1999 - led to doubts as to whether that different ending would actually happen. However, Ronaldo managed to return to the pitch, and compete at high levels again, in time for the 2002 World Cup, the first to be played in two countries: South Korea and Japan. Their first opponents in the hunt for the 'pentacampeão' were Turkey, returning to the competition after a 48-year absence.

Against the Turks, it was a tight contest, with Hasan Şaş taking advantage of a Brazilian error at the end of the first half. The equaliser, five minutes into the second half, came from Ronaldo, who was quick to take advantage of a cross from Rivaldo, who, at the end of the summer, would later join AC Milan. He went on to decide the match with a penalty in the 87th minute. The goal he scored that night in Ulsan started a simply unforgettable month for Ronaldo.

Three goals followed, against Costa Rica and China in the other two group matches. Then a goal against Belgium in the Round of 16 and another in the semi-final, against Turkey again. And a brace in Yokohama in the final against Germany. His total amounted to eight goals, the best tally at a World Cup since Müller (in Mexico 1970), a month that would later earn Ronaldo the second Ballon d'Or of his career. And a definitive place amongst the greatest names in the history of football, despite so much bad luck in his career.

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