It didn’t take long for Brazil to shake off its disappointing loss to France in the 1998 World Cup final and reaffirm itself as the world’s greatest soccer nation.
The sour loss in France proved particularly disturbing as it marked the beginning of a slide for the magnificent Ronaldo, who suffered a mysterious ailment before the game and has struggled with injuries since.
Ronaldo was only 21 during France ’98 but had been named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1996 and 1997. He is currently sidelined with a knee injury. Helping Brazil win the 1999 Copa America marked his only accomplishment since the World Cup final, but Brazil continues to prove its source of talent is endless.
While Ronaldo’s star dimmed, Rivaldo won 1999 European Player of the Year honors.
With a 14-3-3 record, Brazil earned FIFA’s team of the year honors for ’99. It won twice and lost once against archrival Argentina. At the Confederations Cup, it lost to host Mexico, 4-3, in the final but had thumped Germany, 4-0, and put on a magic show in an 8-2 win over Saudi Arabia.
The Brazilians closed out the year by taking the U-17 World Cup.
But the clearest sign of Brazilian strength could be found at the World Club Championship.
The Brazilian entrants, Corinthians and Vasco da Gama, had only one foreign player among them, Colombian Freddy Rincon of Corinthians.
When Manchester United lost to Vasco da Gama, it fielded 10 non-English players. Half of Real Madrid’s roster hails from outside of Spain.
Scores of young Brazilians are snatched up by European clubs each year, but Brazilian clubs remain among the world’s best while relying on homegrown players.
Europe’s top teams, by contrast, depend on imports.
Brazil, the most successful team of the 1900s, looks poised to continue its rule over the soccer world.