Zidane's final and Ronaldo's mystery
The Saint-Denis final was overshadowed by Brazil’s star striker Ronaldo being named in the starting lineup despite suffering a seizure hours before kickoff. He played but was a ghost of himself. Zidane dominated with two first-half headers from corners, both assisted by Youri Djorkaeff. Petit’s breakaway goal in the 90th minute sealed it. Brazil’s pre-match chaos—including late team sheet changes and rumors of sponsor pressure to play Ronaldo—remains one of football’s strangest subplots.
Croatia’s debut run to bronze
First-time qualifiers Croatia, led by Davor Šuker’s six goals, stunned Germany 3-0 in the quarterfinals. Their semifinal loss to France included a controversial Laurent Blanc red card, but they bounced back to beat the Netherlands 2-1 for third place. Šuker won the Golden Boot, and their checkerboard jerseys became iconic. Only three of their squad played outside the Balkans—a stark contrast to today’s globalized talent pools.
The birth of France’s golden generation
Aimé Jacquet’s side blended young stars (Thierry Henry, 20) with veterans (Didier Deschamps, 29). Their 4-3-2-1 system, anchored by Marcel Desailly, conceded just two goals all tournament. Henry and David Trezeguet emerged, but the spine—Fabien Barthez, Lilian Thuram, Zidane—would define France’s next decade. Two years later, 10 of this squad lifted Euro 2000.
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Frequently asked questions
Where was the 1998 World Cup final played?+
Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris—a newly built 80,000-seat stadium opened for the tournament.
Why was Ronaldo’s condition before the final controversial?+
He suffered a convulsive fit hours before kickoff but was rushed back into the lineup, later revealing he had no memory of playing.
Which player scored the most goals in 1998?+
Croatia’s Davor Šuker with six, including the winner against Germany and a chipped finish against the Netherlands.
How many teams participated in 1998?+
32, up from 24 in 1994—the first expansion to this format, which lasted until 2022.
Which African team reached the quarterfinals?+
Nigeria, who topped a group with Spain before losing 4-1 to Denmark in a chaotic knockout match.