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 believe there was a good chance that Ronaldo was actually sick, and was forced by Nike to play. The reason I think that is because Nike makes money from these big athletes and big games. It also could have been caused by pain killers, many athletes think it actually works before games. But, they do not use the pain killers correctly.
Well done Vanessa!
I think there is a possibility that he was actually sick and Nike forced him to play because he was a big face in the company and one of the best players in the world and he would have had a lot of exsposure for the comapny. I think there is a major possibility that he took to many pain killers because there are a lot of professional players that take a lot of pain killer right before a game.
I do think that Ronaldo was actually sick and that Nike forced him to play. I don't think that Brazil would let money persuade them to let the other team win because why would you work that hard for nothing and just to lose. I think that Nike was very selfish to make him play.
I agree, I think Nike pushed him hard to play and he was truly sick and he could not play to his best level. I think that he should not have played because it was very bad for his health to play and he could have gotten even sicker because he played in the game.
Personally I think that Nike had nothing to do with it, and that Ronaldo simply looked strong enough to play and did not play his best game. Everyone has bad games and losing streaks, not for that reason you have to create conspriations or nonsense theories.
I think Ronaldo was actually sick and I do think that Nike had something to do with it because they would lose a lot of money if Ronaldo didn't play in the game. I think that everyone has good games and bad games but I think his health was not good enough to play in that game.
I believe that he was still sick but he still wanted to play for the prize money not because Nike forced him too. Mostly that he was a star player i definitely think that he wanted to show up for the team and try his best to see if they could still win but it didn't turn out for the best. I do believe that Nike really wanted him to play but didnt technically force him to play.
I do think he was sick too, he was having health issues the day before the game in their hotel room and the day of the game. I do think that Nike pushed hard to get him to play because they would lose a lot of money if he did not play in the World cup Final game.
I agree, if he wasn't the star player I don't think he would have played in the game. However, I do think that Nike pushed hard for him to play because they would lose a lot of money if he didn't play in that game because he made Nike a lot of money every game he played.
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