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Ronaldo Nazário gave an exclusive interview to L'Équipe, where he revisited the anecdotes surrounding the lead-up to and the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final.
Reporter: Four years prior (in 2002), you delivered an outstanding tournament, yet back in France 1998, you reached the final only to lose to France. What memories do you hold from that day?
Ronaldo Nazário: When it comes to what happened in 1998, all I can recall is that I laid down in my room after lunch… When I woke up, I was surrounded by the medical staff and several teammates. They then took me to a clinic for examinations. I brought the test results to Mario Zagallo, and the doctors cleared me to play.
Reporter: Did you believe you were fit enough to compete at that time?
Ronaldo Nazário: I insisted on playing myself! My biggest fear back then was being seen by the whole world as someone who would chicken out ahead of the decisive match. I do not regret taking the pitch, but I was only 21 years old then, consumed by overwhelming anxiety, trapped as if inside a pressure cooker with zero emotional support around me. Mental health was still a taboo subject throughout the 1990s.
At the 1998 FIFA World Cup held in France, Ronaldo Nazário was in blistering form and guided Brazil all the way to the final. However, he turned in a lifeless, disjointed performance against France in the title decider, and Brazil ultimately lost 3-0 to the host nation.
