Ronaldo, legendary former Brazilian, Real Madrid or Inter striker, called his haircut he wore at the 2002 World Cup “horrible”.
It’s a mea culpa that goes back to a 19-year-old past. In 2002, Ronaldo had walked on the World Cup organized in Japan and South Korea. Four years after Brazil’s defeat in the final against France, “Fenomeno” carried the Seleçao to their fifth world title by scoring eight goals, including two in the final against Germany. He was also distinguished for his very original hairstyle sported from the semi-finals: a small tuft of hair on the front of the head, fully shaved otherwise.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, the double Ballon d’Or (1997 and 2002) does not really assume this style.
“Horrible!”, Loose the current president of the club of Valladolid, in Spain. “I apologize to all the mothers who have seen their children do the same haircut.”
A haircut to hide an injury
Behind the dubious aesthetics of this hair choice hid a real strategy. Touched in a thigh before the semi-final against Turkey, the player had decided to opt for this cup in order to divert the attention of the Brazilian media on his physical glitches.
“So I did the haircut,” he explains. “I saw my teammates and asked them: ‘Do you like it?’ They said, ‘No, it’s horrible! Stop it!’ But the reporters saw my haircut and forgot about the injury. “
Four years after his seizures, he refused to take a nap before the 2002 final
The next day, Ronaldo scored the only goal of the semi-final against Turkey (1-0) to send Brazil to the final. Then player of Inter Milan, the legendary Brazilian striker explains having dreaded the meeting against Germany, four years after having been seized by convulsions during his nap before the final lost against France. In 2002, he refused to sleep before the meeting.
“I was walking down the hall looking for someone to talk to me so I wouldn’t sleep, not to give me the chance for this to happen again, he explains. I found Dida (goalkeeper ) and I said, ‘Dida, stay with me, talk to me.’ And he was with me until we got on the bus to the stadium. “
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