The 1998 World Cup Soccer final was between France and Brazil. They had a lot of competition and they were rivals for a long time. Ronaldo was Brazil's most famous player, he had won many awards and he created a lot of fame for Brazil’s soccer team. However, hours before the 1998 World Cup Final, Ronaldo fell very ill and was rushed to the hospital. His teammates were confused and worried about their star player. Rumors were that he suffered a seziere, other rumors were that he had hurt his knee. Then, out of nowhere Ronaldo returns, 40 min before the game and said to be completely clear and fit to play in the game. During the game, Ronaldo was clearly out of it, he was not playing to the ability he could play at. After the game, reports came out about Ronaldo, stating from his teammates that the night before the game he seemed to have suffered a minor seizure in his hotel room. After these reports have come out, Ronaldo’s doctors were being questioned with what they have been prescribing to him during the season. They admitted that they gave Ronaldo a painkiller called Voltaren, this was to help with previous injuries he had earlier in the season. Voltarens side effects do not include seizures, however the side effects are stomach pain, dizzyness, lightheadedness and headaches.
However, some conspicies with this story are, he would only have had these side effects if he was truly very sick beforehand, a likely reason was because Nike forced Ronaldo to play. This was because Ronaldo drew a lot of buisness to Nike and every game that Ronaldo played wearing a Nike uniform, Nike got money. An article came out stating that the Brazillian Football (soccer) confederation has a contract with nike, stating that they must play Ronaldo throughout the entire season and together, the Football confederation and Nike backed Ronaldo into a corner threatening to cancel his sponsorship deal and forced him to play in the World Cup Final.
A second theory was that the Brazillian Football Confederation and Brazillian Government officials were offered $30 Million dollars to throw the game and let their opponent, France win the championship game. The bribe was also that they would hace an easy pass into the 2002 World Cup and that they would be able to host a World Cup by the next decade. Then, ironically in 2014 Brazil got to host the World Cup. I think that Ronaldo was actually ill and Nike forced him to play, if he was having seizures and stuff the night before then something was going on.
1.) Do you think Ronaldo was actually sick, and Nike forced him to play, or do you think the Brazil team got offered money by France to throw the game and let France win?
2.) Do you think there could be a possibility that Ronaldo took too many of his pain killers? Do you think it could be a chance that he had a drug problem?
Replies
I do believe that he was sick, however i'm not so sure that Nike "forced" him to play. I know they would miss out on a lot of money but I don't think it would be worth it because if that were true and it got out to the press and the world. It would not end well.
I agree, I think he was actually sick because of what was happening to him the night before, but I do think Nike pushed hard to get him to play because they would be losing a lot of money if he didn't. I think that Ronaldo probably had the final decision but Nike probably made an impact on his decision.
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