The 2002 FIFA World Cup had the distinction of being the first to be staged in Asia and the first to be hosted by more than one country. Victory ultimately went to Brazil, who beat Germany 2-0 in the final at the International Stadium in Yokohama, Japan on June 30, 2002, courtesy of two second-half goals from striker Ronaldo. Brazil thus became the first country to win the World Cup five times and the first to do so with a 100% record since the side featuring Rivellino, Jairzinho, and Pele won the Jules Rimet Trophy for the third time in 1970.
The tournament format consisted of eight groups of four teams, as it had done for the first time four years earlier. The group stage was notable for the failure of defending champions France and pre-tournament favourites Argentina to advance to the knockout stages. France, in fact, failed to score in all three group matches and finished bottom of Group A after defeats by Senegal and Denmark and a goalless draw with Uruguay.
Brazil, by contrast, had no problem scoring goals and topped Group C with a maximum nine points. They came from behind to beat Turkey 2-1 at the Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, South Korea in their own opening group match, before beating China 4-0 at the Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo and Costa Rica 5-2 at the Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon.
In the round of 16, Brazil faced Group H runners-up Belgium, whom they beat 2-0, thanks to second-half goals from Rivaldo and Ronaldo. Next up came the infamous quarter-final against England at the Shizuoka Stadium in Fukuroi City, Japan. The Three Lions led by a Michael Owen goal midway through the first half, but were ultimately undone by a Ronaldiho free-kick, which, by accident or design, he floated beyond England goalkeeper David Seaman and into the top corner early in the second half, thereby securing a 2-1 win for the Canarinho.
Brazil defeated Turkey 1-0 in their semi-final, and so faced Germany in the final. Ronaldo scored both goals, both in the second half, in a 2-0 win, collecting the Golden Boot, or Golden Shoe, as the award was known at the time, with eight goals. Brazilian captain Marcos Evangelista de Moraism, better known as Cafu, who was appearing in his third consecutive World Cup final, collected the trophy on behalf of his team.