Rivaldo and Ronaldo kiss the World Cup. (Allsport)

By Frank Malley, PA Chief Sports Writer, Yokohama

As sporting resurrections go the night Ronaldo claimed his redemption was up there with the greatest.

Indeed, perhaps not since Muhammad Ali roped a dope in George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle on a steamy night not dissimilar from this one in Japan's second city has sport witnessed a comeback of such spectacular and comprehensive proportions.

That's how it seemed as Ronaldo, the man who lumbered around the Stade de France in a daze after suffering mysterious convulsions before the final four years ago, lifted the World Cup to his lips and planted on it the tenderest of kisses after Brazil had beaten Germany 2-0 to claim their fifth world crown.

And, as he was chaired by team-mates on the Yokohama pitch and cried tears of joy into the shoulders of back-room staff, you could only guess at the relief, elation and wonder which must have been coursing through his mind.

Relief that Brazil were again in their spiritual home at the pinnacle of football after two finals in which they had failed to score a goal.

Elation at having won the Golden Boot as the tournament's leading scorer with eight goals, a tally which took him level with the legendary Pele's 12 World Cup goals for Brazil.

All the more special because Pele was there on the medal podium to embrace him in his hour of glory.

But most of all genuine wonder that here he was, the Ronaldo so many believed might not play again, with the most prestigious trophy in football in his hands and the world at his bewitching feet.

That fateful night in Paris had ended in such acrimony and back-biting, stopping only just short of physical violence as Brazilian team-mates and then-coach Mario Zagallo clashed with Press and back-room staff following rows and heartache over Ronaldo which ripped the heart and spirit out of his teammates.

If that was bad enough then the years which followed were even more traumatic, his career hanging in the balance as specialists attempted to reconstruct his damaged knee.

The truth is Ronaldo has barely played more than a handful of games since that fateful night in July 1998, clinging to his sanity at times by the slenderest of threads.

Which is why every sports lover should celebrate his glory as the most heart-warming chapter of a World Cup story which has not failed to excite and surprise from the moment the romantics of Senegal beat champions France in the opening match of this extraordinary tournament a month ago.

If we are honest it wasn't a final over which to drool.

It was never quite the glamorous advertisement for 'jogo bonito' - the beautiful game - for which we all had hoped.

But that Brazil deserved to win is indisputable. They created all the best chances, they lit up the night with sparkling bursts and magical moments even if the game at times did fall into pits of mediocrity.

It was that sort of final, played in fits and starts, with Germany giving as good as they got for long periods.

In the end, though, it was always going to be a question of the individual brilliance of Brazil pitted against the ruthless pragmatism of a German side which just nine months ago was branded the worst German team in living memory after its 5-1 defeat by England.

The way coach Rudi Voeller has lifted that squad and generated a momentum which threatened to go all the way to the trophy itself is almost as remarkable as the rejuvenation of Ronaldo.

It seems that however low a German side appears to fall it always finds a way of working a route through a tournament, regardless of the injuries and setbacks it suffers. It is a trait England and coach Sven-Goran Eriksson would do well to emulate.

In truth, for much of the first half of this intriguing final Germany were by far the better team, organised and rhythmic in their approach play, robust and threatening as they powered forward in structured waves.

It wasn't the 'neutralising' negativity which Voeller had promised, even without their most enterprising player, the suspended Michael Ballack. Their challenge carried potency with Oliver Neuville and Miroslav Klose at its heart.

It might have been enough to overwhelm many opponents, but order and organisation rarely defeats outright brilliance. Nor should it.

And as the game wore on the fleeting Brazilian cameos of skill became more urgent. Ronaldo might have had a hat-trick in the first half, a 20-yard right-footer from Kleberson also thundered back off the crossbar.

It seemed the World Cup gods were with Deutschland as they have been so often during the history of this tournament which they have won three times.

And that would have been a travesty. Because this tournament owes everything to Brazil. When it was floundering under the weight of traditional footballing nations crashing to a new order of African and Asian talent, Brazil restored the equilibrium.

Brazil, with Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos the glamorous spearheads, proved that all the talk of tiredness and incompetent referees and conspiracy theories, was so much bunk.

It was European complacency and arrogance, not mere exhaustion, which was at the heart of the traumas which have shaken this tournament of dubious quality but enduring drama.

It was Brazilian talent which ultimately eclipsed South Korean passion and enterprise as the commodity which will forever be synonymous with the first World Cup to be held by co-hosts and on the Asian continent.

And if Ronaldo's first goal after 66 minutes owed more to the only mistake German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has made this World Cup then that is the cruelty which so often accompanies the slight margins between success and failure at the summit of sport.

There was no such fortune about his second, Rivaldo's vision in stepping over the ball allowing Ronaldo to slice across the penalty area and glide a precise finish past the despairing Kahn.

At that moment the footballing hell of Ronaldo was transformed into sheer heaven, his bizarre triangle of hair disappearing under a euphoric scrum of team-mates.

He departed with a minute to go, replaced by Denilson, almost as if to allow a moment to compose himself before the madness of celebration began. Tears of joy ran down his cheeks and he later admitted: "I'm so happy. I'm very touched. We have brought joy to millions of people. It will take time for me to figure out what happened but it will always be surrounded with happiness."

Just as we will always be grateful for the memory of Brazil and its thrilling yellow shirts and its shimmering football at Korea and Japan 2002.

And, of course, the image of Ronaldo, face wreathed in smiles as tenderly his lips touched the trophy.

From the worst moment of his life to the greatest - the circle was complete.

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