Ronaldo and the day he kicked Zidane out of Brazil’s dressing room: “Many players were crying”

‘Zinedine Zidane had just delivered one of the most memorable performances in the history of the World Cup, and France had just eliminated Brazil in the 2006 quarterfinals. The Frenchman then entered the Canarinha dressing room to exchange shirts with some players, but he only stayed for a few moments. Ronaldo Nazário asked him to leave. 20 years after a story unknown until now, O Fenômeno has told for the first time what that conversation was like and the reason for a scene that had until now remained private during an interview with L”Equipe.’

“We were friends and we still are. He came into our dressing room, but the atmosphere was terrible. Many players were crying. I congratulated him, but I told him it was not the right time to exchange shirts and asked him to leave,” Ronaldo explains. It was the match that changed the World Cup. Brazil arrived in Germany as the reigning world champion and with a squad packed with stars. Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaká, Adriano, Cafú, Roberto Carlos or Zé Roberto were part of a team that many pointed to as the big favorite for the title. 

An exhibition never before seen at a World Cup

However, the Brazilian national team came up against a Zidane in inspired form. France won 1-0 with a goal from Thierry Henry, but the result was almost overshadowed by the French captain’s masterclass. Ronaldo himself admits that he has rarely seen a performance like it. “He was truly inspired. It is no coincidence that this match is considered one of the greatest individual performances in World Cup history”. That night he propelled France to the tournament final, although they would end up losing the title to Italy in the penalty shootout, in the match remembered for Zidane’s headbutt on Materazzi.

Ronaldo also used the interview to analyze the current state of the Brazilian national team. The former striker believes that football has become more evenly matched and that Brazil no longer dominates the international scene as it did two decades ago. “We are talking about the most popular sport in the world. There are great players and great teams all over the planet. Brazil has lost that status as the undisputed favorite, but it remains one of football’s great powers”. Even so, he believes the pressure will remain the same. “Because of Brazil’s history as the eternal favorite and because of the place football holds in our culture, expectations are always very high.”