Zinedine zidane had just signed one of the most memorable performances in the history of the World Cups and France had just eliminated Brazil in the quarterfinals of 2006. The Frenchman then entered the locker room of the Canarinha to exchange shirts with some players, but it only lasted a few moments. Ronaldo Nazário He asked him to leave. 20 years after a story unknown until now, The Phenomenon has told for the first time what that conversation was like and the reason for a scene that until now had remained private during an interview in L’Equipe.
Zidane’s unforgettable display against Brazil
“We were friends and we still are. He came to our locker room, but the atmosphere was bad.. Many players were crying. I congratulated him, but I told him that it was not the right time to exchange shirts and asked him to leave“explains Ronaldo. It was the match that changed the World Cup. Brazil arrived in Germany as the current world champion and with a squad full of stars. Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaká, Adriano, Cafú, Roberto Carlos or Zé Roberto They were part of a team that many pointed out as the great favorite for the title.
A display never before seen in a World Cup
However, The Brazilian team found a Zidane in a state of grace. France won 1-0 with a goal from Thierry Henrybut the result was almost in the background due to the display of the French captain. Ronaldo himself admits that he has rarely seen such a performance. “I was really inspired. It is no coincidence that that match is considered one of the greatest individual performances in the history of the World Cup”. That night he propelled France to the final of the tournament, although they would end up losing the title against Italy in the penalty shootout, in the match of the remembered header of Zidane to Materazzi.
Ronaldo also took advantage of the interview to analyze the present of the Brazilian team. The former striker believes that football has become equal and that Brazil no longer dominates the international scene as it did two decades ago. “We are talking about the most popular sport in the world. There are great players and great teams all over the planet. Brazil has lost that status of undisputed favorite, but it remains one of the great powers of football”. Of course, he believes that the pressure will remain the same. “Because of Brazil’s history as a perennial favorite and because of the place soccer occupies in our culture, expectations are always very high.”
