Ronaldo’s Resilience: Triumph Through Adversity in the 2002 World Cup

Brazilians possess a unique ability to find humor even in the face of adversity. Despite enduring numerous social challenges, they are renowned for their laughter. However, the joy following Brazil’s 2-1 comeback victory over England in the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals was short-lived.

Ronaldinho, the architect of the remarkable winning goal, faced suspension from the semi-final due to a red card. More concerning was the situation involving Ronaldo, Brazil’s iconic No. 9.

Ronaldo experienced thigh pain during the first half against England and was substituted with 20 minutes remaining. Amid post-match celebrations, he was already aware of the severity of his condition.

“I want to see you get me ready for the next match. I want to see if you’re good,” he told team doctor Jose Luiz Runco, as captured in footage later featured in Ronaldo’s documentary on Globoplay. This was not a mere jest; it was a sincere request from someone who had faced significant trials throughout his career.

From the infamous seizure just hours before the 1998 World Cup final to his plea in 2002, life had tested Ronaldo like few others. His most significant challenge occurred in April 2000, during Inter’s Coppa Italia match against Lazio, when he suffered a devastating injury to his right knee, tearing his tendon in his first match back after five months of recovery. The sight of Ronaldo weeping on the pitch became one of football’s most heart-wrenching moments.

The timeline of his injuries was concerning. Late in 1998, inflammation in both knees sidelined him for months. Though he returned in January 1999, pain persisted, resulting in an additional eight-week absence by April. A minor thigh strain followed in May, and by November, he suffered a partial rupture of his right knee tendon. When he finally returned in April 2000, he suffered a complete rupture moments later.

By the time Luiz Felipe Scolari announced Brazil’s final squad for the 2002 World Cup, Ronaldo had played only 19 matches since that fateful night in Rome, managing to complete a full 90 minutes in just three of those games. After nearly two years away from football, he was expected to dive straight into the world’s most intense competition. It was only during that World Cup, against Costa Rica and Belgium, that he played consecutive full matches again.

Despite attempting to project calmness after the England match, Ronaldo’s demeanor betrayed him. Observers noted his unusual silence and serious expression, a sentiment echoed by both Scolari and Runco. Fortunately, initial scans showed no muscle tear, and the absence of knee-related concerns fostered some optimism. Nevertheless, the tournament’s leading scorer—tied with Rivaldo and Miroslav Klose at five goals—was in distress.

“Medicine isn’t an exact science. Each case is unique,” Runco remarked to O Globo amid the prevailing anxiety. “I believe he’ll play, but I can’t guarantee it.”

While his teammates trained on the field, Ronaldo dedicated his time to physiotherapy, electrotherapy, and cryotherapy, determined to recover for the upcoming match.

His injury history was alarming. Even his selection for the squad was a gamble, particularly as Romario was omitted amidst public outcry. In the months leading to the World Cup, Ronaldo had suffered five muscle injuries—each in his right thigh—and none had healed adequately in the mere five days separating his victory over England and the semi-final against Turkey.

“His injury worries us,” Scolari confessed. “But I trust our medical team—and more importantly, the player’s willpower. I don’t believe he’ll miss the semi-final. We need everyone now. If you’ve got half a leg, you play! Ronaldo knows Brazil needs him. He’s been a technical and emotional leader for this team.”

Ronaldo’s smile was the first promising sign. During an interview with Japan’s Nippon TV on the eve of the semi-final, he asserted his readiness to face Turkey: “I was more tired than the others, but in two or three days I’ll be fine. After all, I’ve played so many games in a short period. After two years without football, it’s been intense.”

Runco’s tone also became lighter, though no one was entirely at ease. Imagine Ronaldo’s predicament: years of careful preparation, only to be thwarted by injury at every turn. Perhaps that is why he chose to alter his ritual.

“I always shaved my head before matches,” Ronaldo recounted in his documentary. “This time, I left a patch. I walked down the hotel corridor… Everyone laughed, made jokes, teased me, saying I didn’t have the guts to show up for training like that.”

Scolari, however, was furious. “‘What’s that haircut?!’ I was nervous, upset. ‘Why do this now? What if it backfires? Did you ask my permission?’ I was livid!” he explained years later in the same film.

Yet, the coach had greater concerns. Ronaldo barely moved during the final training session, a fact noted by all in attendance. Could he really play? Doubt clashed with confidence: Ronaldo remained resolute about the haircut.

“I can’t disappoint all the little kids who copied it,” he said with a smile at a press conference.

The haircut became an instant sensation, dominating news cycles worldwide as fans and children emulated it, while even Turkish midfielder Umit Davala’s mohawk garnered ‘hair duel’ headlines.

Ronaldo has often reflected on that haircut, consistently downplaying any notion of a grand strategy. Yet, he acknowledged its intentionality, as it diverted attention from his injury.

“I was only at 60 percent, so I shaved my head. Everybody was only talking about my injury. When I arrived in training with this haircut, everybody stopped talking about the injury,” he told The Sun in 2017. Whether planned or serendipitous, that unusual tuft of hair brought the levity everyone needed.

While Ronaldo opted for a distinctive style, the Turkish players hatched a plan of their own: they would all shave their heads if they defeated Brazil. The first half of that semi-final, however, was lackluster. Brazil struggled, and Ronaldo was notably underwhelming. On Globo’s broadcast, commentator Walter Casagrande called for his substitution, stating, “He’s a man down today.”

Legendary Brazil coach Mario Zagallo later confessed, “At half-time, I also thought Ronaldo should come off. Everyone saw he wasn’t right.”

And indeed, he was not. Yet this is the essence of genius: they manifest brilliance amid adversity. Ronaldo returned for the second half and, seizing his first genuine opportunity, created a moment of magic.

“I couldn’t strike with the inside of my foot; it would’ve aggravated the injury. So I saw the chance and hit it with my toe. Perfect,” he recalled in the documentary.

Brazil took the lead. From pain emerged artistry, resulting in one of Ronaldo’s most memorable goals. He was substituted in the 68th minute, and Brazil held their ground.

“I knew he’d play when I saw that haircut two days before,” Scolari chuckled after the match.

The Cascao haircut, named after one of Brazil’s most beloved cartoon characters, earned a permanent place in football history that night. Yet one final obstacle awaited: the World Cup final.

World Cup finals are inherently tense, but for Ronaldo, the pressure was immense, especially following the events of 1998. This time, sporting a tuft instead of trauma, he scored both goals in the 2-0 triumph over Germany, leading Brazil to its fifth global title.

Ronaldo finished as the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, achieving his long-awaited redemption. His haircut, along with the iconic canary-yellow jersey adorned with green, became a symbol of that victory. He maintained that hairstyle for months after the final, reluctant to part with its significance.

Even today, when Brazilians reflect on Ronaldo and the Penta, they recall that infamous haircut—absurd, unforgettable, and forever legendary.