2002 World Cup Memory: The Story Behind The Nyentrik Rambutting Style Of Ronaldo Brasil

Brazil's national team star, Ronaldo Nazario Luis De Lima with his unique haircut featured at the 2002 World Cup. (fifa.com)

JAKARTA - Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima is a world footballer. His action on the gridiron often drew admiration. That reason earned him the nickname: The Phenomenon. Especially when his action led Brazil to become the 2002 World Cup winners held in Japan and South Korea.

The whole world's attention points to him. The attention was not only due to his action scoring eight goals, from the group stage to the final. However, the fruit of Ronaldo's courage changed his hairstyle.

No one doubts Ronaldo's preference for football. He has occupied the sport since childhood. He has a dream like a Brazilian child in general: wanting to become a famous footballer. The dream is considered the only option of getting out of poverty. The hope of the talented young striker continues to grow.

His ability to process the round skin was glimpsed by many parties. Ronaldo then gave the choice to defend the club Cruzeiro (19931994). Ronaldo did not expect that his existence in Cruzeiro brought him to the stage of world football. Ronaldo was at PSV Eindhoven (19941996), Barcelona (19961997), and Inter Milan (19972002).

Luiz Felipe Schholari was attracted by Ronaldo's greatness. The Brazilian coach wanted Ronaldo to be in his core squad which was brought to Japan and South Korea for the 2002 World Cup. The decision was criticized by many parties. Because, not long ago Ronaldo was often vulnerable to injury.

In fact, Ronaldo's performance was able to silence many parties. Ronaldo was able to score four goals in making Brazil the winner of Group A. The rest of Ronaldo scored one goal against Belgium in the last 16.

One more goal against Turkey in the semifinals, and two final goals against Germany in the Finals. Ronaldo's total has scored eight goals. Instead of only leading Brazil to become the 2002 World Cup winner, Ronaldo was also the first to score eight goals in a single World Cup title.

A year after the 1998 world trophy, he was seriously injured in his right knee while playing for Inter Milan against Lecce. He rested for four months with a broken tendon condition. During his return in 2000, he only played seven minutes during the Italian Cup game against Lazio, before being injured again in the same leg.

After two operations and 20 months of rehabilitation, Ronaldo returned on time for the 2002 world trophy. He scored two goals against Germany in the final. He was the first to win the highest scorer in a single world cup title with eight goals. He helped the Brazilian win the fifth World Cup title. He was also awarded the 2002 FIFA World Player for the third time, after winning the award in 1996 and 1997. Also in 2002, he was transferred from Inter Inter to Real Madrid," said Clemente Angelo Lisi in the book A History of the World Cup 1930-2010 (2011).

Ronaldo's popularity is not only because his goals were able to bring Brazil to the 2002 World Cup winners. The momentum inherent in the memory of many people was because of the courage of Ronaldo to appear eccentric with his new hairstyle.

People can't forget the shape of Ronaldo's hair. He just left the hair in front of him left. While the rest was shaving off. People don't know the hair model. However, because Ronaldo used it, the hairstyle was popular all over the world.

Children around the world also want to be Ronaldo. They put Ronaldo like a hero. His eccentric hair model was even imitated. People also try to guess the reasons behind Ronaldo's courage to appear eccentric.

That said, Ronaldo chose this hairstyle to just distinguish it from another Brazilian player, Roberto Carlos. Later Ronaldo admitted that his hairstyle in the semi-final against Turkey was a strategic form.

He used a eccentric hair model so that the mass media would not contain news of a muscle injury case before the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup. Ronaldo also tried to take a diversion tactic. He also chose a eccentric hair model as an advisory. The effort was successful. The media forgot Ronaldo's injury, and instead interested in reviewing the case of his hair model.

"I had an injury to my leg and everyone talked about it, I decided to cut my hair and leave a little one there. I came to training and everyone saw me with bad hair."

Everyone talks about hair and forgets it. injury. I can stay calmer and relaxed and focus on my training. I'm not proud of the hair itself because it's quite strange. But that's a good way to change the topic of conversation," Ronaldo said as quoted by the Sports Illustrated page, March 21, 2018.