Original subtitles

This programme contains some strong language.

Now...

'..rules and regulations...'

Sh, just coming back in a second.

'In our league, they would have to...'

So, after nearly five weeks, here we are, all set for the last match.

They tell us we couldn't have a better World Cup final.

Brazil against France - the holders against the host country.

The two pre-tournament favourites.

It's the first time in the World Cup Brazil have not come out

to warm up on the pitch.

France are out there warming up.

We haven't seen a Brazilian player.

'Brazil win the World Cup for an unprecedented fourth time!'

'Ronaldo down.

'Ronaldo's back up! Ronaldo's through!

'And Ronaldo scores!'

'Left three players in his wake. He checks his feet...

'This would be a wonderful goal...

'Oh! It's in!'

AUDIENCE SCREAMS

Ronaldo!

Ronaldo!

Very humble.

Always smiling, always happy.

That's why everyone loved him.

# Something like a phenomenon

# Something like a phenomenon...#

Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldo,

Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldo...

The level of fame and celebrity was all encompassing.

In '98, he was ubiquitous.

He was born to be the phenomenon.

God said, "You're the one".

CROWD SCREAMS AND JOSTLES

CROWD ROARS

CHEERING

'The bar is set so high that it's quite hard for them

'to enjoy the ride, enjoy the journey of the World Cup.

'You'll see World Cups referred to as ones that Brazil won,

'and one that Brazil lost,

'as if it was like heads or tails.'

'So, this soccer-crazy country, taking a fifth world title

'would be the ultimate confirmation

'that the Samba Boys really are in a class of their own.'

'It's a World Cup more hyped than any other.'

CHEERING

CHEERING

CHEERING

'Ronaldo plays out of his skin that day.

'And I don't think it was ever really appreciated,

'the extent to which he was carrying a side

'that really weren't that great.'

CHEERING

'More than a billion people across the world are expected

'to watch the 1998 World Cup final.

'Brazil is favoured to win an unprecedented fifth trophy.'

Let me show you the actual photocopy

of the team sheet that's handed in.

There's a cross there,

which indicates that he's one of the substitutes.

'It's the first time in the World Cup

'Brazil have not come out to warm up on the pitch.

'France are out there warming up.

'We haven't seen a Brazilian player.'

And the latest rumour, just to add fuel to the fire,

is that there must be some sort of argument going on

in the dressing room.

Edmundo's playing in Ronaldo's place,

alongside Bebeto,

and that's an experienced line-up, but not as terrifying.

Yeah.

I don't like really Edmundo.

I saw... I saw him playing against Morocco in the last 30 minutes,

and he didn't impress me at all.

So, you know, to take the place of Ronaldo is very difficult

for any players in the world.

I'm just going to interrupt you there, because news has just

come out that the biggest wind-up in World Cup football history

has just hit the news because Ronaldo will play!

First of all, they thought it was a knee injury.

Then somebody said Zagallo had dropped him.

Then it was all a mistake.

And then we were told it was definitely true.

And then suddenly, here's the new team sheet!

The Brazilian team doctors then gave Ronaldo clearance to play,

45 minutes before the kick-off.

He arrived at the stadium after the rest of the Brazilian team.

Well, there've been some strange starts to World Cup finals

in the past, but never one quite like that.

Recriminations have already begun over the tame Brazilian performance,

with questions being asked about the decision to play their star

striker Ronaldo, even though he was clearly unfit.

Can I ask you a couple of questions about the Nike contract?

You don't want to talk about football.

I would like to talk about... Bye-bye.

Some people say... No more answers. No more questions.

As a consequence of

Brazil's defeat in 1998,

and all of the speculation about Nike forcing Ronaldo to play,

there were two separate commissions of inquiry

in Brazil's Congress to investigate what happened.

It's incredible.

It really does show the importance of the game in this country.

The problem was that these clauses were kept secret

and all these wild and wonderful conspiracy theories emerge

as a consequence.

Was the illness caused by painkilling injections he was having

so he could play despite an injured knee?

You say some sort of punch up going on?

Ronaldo taken to hospital and reported to be vomiting...

Reportedly, Brazil's players had received a total of

$23 million in bribes to throw the game...

Ronaldo has a history of sleepwalking.

It could be sometime yet before we hear the real truth...

(ECHOING) ..the real truth, real truth...

..the real truth behind the Ronaldo story.

Inter at that point were the sort of perennially underachieving club

that spent big money and everybody made fun of

because they were obsessed with winning the title.

They tried everything.

So, Inter had brought in Marcello Lippi,

who won league titles at Juventus - a direct rival,

and they made sure that the whole table was set,

by bringing in, arguably, the other greatest striker in the world

at that time, Christian Vieri.

Lippi calls me and says, "What are you doing? Want to come to Inter?"

I said, "I'm already in my car!

"I'll be there in half an hour to sign the contract."

Because I wanted to play with him.

On the first day of training

I went to him and I said, "I'm here because of you."

We're going to destroy everyone for the next five, six, seven years.

There's no-one better than us.

'Vieri!

'He's scored!'

CHEERING

'And Vieri is there!

'Vieri... It's Ronaldo!

'It's the Vieri and Ronaldo show for Inter!'

I remember one day we were training, and he said, "Try to do this!"

And I said, "Er... What am I going to do?!"

I just started laughing and I said, "What the fuck? I can't do this!"

It was like...like playing with Michael Jordan, you know?

The Chicago Bulls.

We'd had 5,000 or 6,000 people watching us train.

CHEERING AND SHOUTING

We were just so good together.

Just amazing.

What we could have done without the injuries.

We could have won everything.

The narrative around Ronaldo changed a little bit.

OK, here's this really special player.

Is he being overworked?

There was a sense that he needs to be protected.

But at 23, his season is over.

Patella tendon rupture.

A patellar tendon rupture is a disabling injury.

You can have a partial tear, where the tendon does not separate

from the kneecap, or you can tear the tendon completely.

With a complete rupture, you may hear the tendon snap.

Your kneecap may slide up above your knee.

CROWD SINGS

It was massive.

It was massive because the return had been delayed.

And so the anticipation just built

and built and built ahead of that game.

'Ronaldo's back!'

GROANING

Knee flexion.

After surgery, your tendon will be stiff

and it will be difficult to bend your knee.

Regaining knee flexion is time consuming and painful.

Your flexibility will increase by around ten degrees per week.

You have to understand.

Inter were obsessed with winning another title.

Having tried everything,

they said, "Let's...let's try something else.

Hector Cuper is this Argentine tough guy.

"We need discipline.

"We need order.

"Enough of the flair, enough with the big names."

And Ronaldo simply didn't fit that narrative.

He got it into his head that Ronaldo was a problem and wasn't worth it.

JOURNALIST: Ronaldo! Ronaldo!

The idea the star players get preferential treatment

is very ingrained in Italy.

With Cuper, he got the opposite.

Ronaldo!

How do you get angry at Ronaldo?

Like, seriously.

Other than Hector Cuper, he was just beloved by, I think, everybody.

CHEERING

I should have said to the coach, "Just leave him alone.

"Let him just do what he wants."

If it's me, I've got to train, OK.

If it's Zanetti, you've got to train.

Recoba, you've got to train. Shut up.

With all the problems he's had, just leave him alone. Know what I mean?

It was very, very tough for him to get back in good shape.

So we were waiting for him.

The fans, the players - we were waiting for him.

MUSIC AND SINGING

Brazil took responsibility

for Ronaldo's recuperation, and they got him fit.

In order for that to happen,

he's needed to work, not with the Inter Milan specialists,

but with Brazil's physical specialists.

Inter were in a three-way race for the title,

and many had them as favourites.

And Cuper is very superstitious.

Some people have accused Cuper

of thinking that Ronaldo was somehow cursed.

'No wonder Cuper looks worried.

'The title could be on the line here.'

CHEERING

'Until now, Inter's cautious coach, Hector Cuper, had been reluctant

'to risk big Ron in serious competition.

'Sunday morning, though, he surprised everyone

'by putting the Brazilian in from the start,

'alongside the club's other fresh back from injury star,

'Christian Vieri.'

HE SHOUTS INAUDIBLY

'It's Ronaldo!

'He's round the goalkeeper!

'Ronaldo...

'Ronaldo!'

'It's Ronaldo!

'It's all three!

'What a story here!'

Finally we had our Ronaldo back.

With Ronaldo and Vieri now finally playing together up front

for Inter, the Italian press have spent this week touting

the Nerazzurri as the new title favourites.

The performance turned the narrative.

Just as before he was cursed, now he's blessed.

Plays again, gave all,

scores the free kick.

And that sends you, in a way, into a final game

where you control your own destiny.

CHEERING

'Four years of absolute misery!

'Ronaldo is back on the big stage with a big smile!'

THEY CHANT

There is a feeling now that Brazil can and will go all the way

and will bring back their fifth World Cup.

'Michael Owen for England! It's a great chance!

'And he's scored!

CROWD CHEERS

'Goal!

CHEERING

He will play tomorrow. He's very good.

100% fit? We're not sure about 100% or 0%.

We just say he'll play.

It's a metaphor for one of the great things

about South American football,

which is, when things are difficult, you improvise a solution.

CROWD CHEERS

INAUDIBLE

Eight goals in a World Cup.

In one World Cup.

It's amazing, man.

More goals than games.

Phenomenal.

That's the nickname, man.

That's it.

CHEERING

# As I look into your eyes

# I can see that you wanted me to love you

# You wanted to be mine

# You said that it was wrong

HE SINGS ALONG # You loving me, me loving you

# So I walk into the world of tomorrow

# Hide behind the range of sorrow

# Dream of a love that could have been

# But now you're gone forever

# My love, my girl

# Just like the wind

Yeah!

# No, no, no-no, no-no

# Just like the wind

# Walk

# Into the world of tomorrow

# Hide

# Behind the range of sorrow

# Dream of a love that could have been

# But now you're gone forever

# My love, my girl

# Just like the wind

# No, no, no, no-no, no-no

# Just like the wind. #