It’s a goal that gives England fans – and probably David Seaman – hot sweats at night.
But Brazil legend Ronaldinho has revealed that he never intended to lob the Three Lions stopper during that heartbreaking World Cup quarter-final defeat in Japan in 2002. The 42-year-old maverick broke England hearts with an incredible 40-yard free-kick that deceived Seaman and put Brazil 2-1 up.
Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side didn’t relinquish that advantage as they sent the Three Lions crashing out under Sven-Goran Eriksson. In the immediate aftermath of the match, Ronaldinho insisted that he intended for the free-kick to go in.
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But he later admitted that luck more than played its part in one of the most iconic goals in England World Cup history. “No, it wasn’t on purpose,” said Ronaldinho, speaking in May of this year.
Do you think Ronaldinho meant the goal or not? Let us know in the comments section below.
(Image: Getty Images)
“But we studied it a lot and we knew that the English goalkeeper – he kind of took the advance a bit. I was actually lucky enough that the ball entered the way it did. For the sadness of lots of English, and for the happiness of so many Brazilians.”
Asked if it was the most important goal of his career, which took in stops at Barcelona, PSG and AC Milan, Ronaldinho added: “It was one of the most important goals.
(Image: Europa Press via Getty Images)
“It’s certainly very remarkable because wherever I go, people ask me about it. There was also an important goal against Real Madrid but certainly that is the one that arises the most curiosity wherever I go.”
As for Seaman, he too insists it was luck rather than judgement on the part of Ronaldinho. “It was lucky,” he told talkSPORT on a visit to Classic Football Shirts LDN in 2019.
“Did we know how good Ronaldinho was? Not really, no! We’d heard about him, but it’s until you see somebody on the pitch that you begin to realise how good they are and he was good.
“Obviously I don’t remember all of that – all I remember is his lucky free kick! People ask me, ‘Did he mean it?’, but it doesn’t matter. It still went in from about 40 yards out, so it was a goalkeeping mistake.
“When he crossed it, I went one way then I tried to get back the other way and I just got caught too square, and I couldn’t move.”
“So I’ve let that goal in, it’s 2-1 now in the second half and I’ve looked at the clock and there’s only about half an hour left.
(Image: Getty)
“I remember thinking, ‘Come on lads, get me out of this.’ But I also remember thinking, ‘Oh no, if this stays at 2-1 am I going to get the same treatment David Beckham got in 98?’
“All these thoughts were going through my head while I’m still playing, but it wasn’t to be and we went out. I was a bit scared, because you don’t know how the country is going to treat you when you get back.”
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