Rivaldo gets his hands on the trophy. (Allsport)

By Frank Malley, PA Chief Sports Writer, Yokohama

It was a World Cup Final which for Ronaldo was simply beyond his wildest dreams.

For the player known as 'The Phenomenon', there was the all-too-real prospect he would never grace 'the beautiful game' again as serious knee injuries threatened an early end to his career.

For the public at large, that meant their abiding memory of Ronaldo would be of someone who was a virtual spectator during the 1998 World Cup Final against France.

He suffered a seizure in the dressing room before kick off, which led to his name being withdrawn from the initial team sheet, only for him to be dramatically reinstated.

But with Ronaldo so ineffective, Brazil were not the same team and they were beaten 3-0 by Les Bleus in Paris, a disastrous defeat which has hung over them - and Ronaldo in particular - since that day.

That match can now be consigned to history as Ronaldo and Brazil wrote another new chapter in this, the 17th tournament of which the Selecao have now won a remarkable five.

As for Ronaldo, 'The Phenomenon' is firmly back in the spotlight as his two second-half goals in the space of 10 minutes have guaranteed him his own niche in the annals of the competition.

The 25-year-old Inter Milan striker finished with a golden-shoe winning eight goals for the tournament. Not since West Germany's Gerd Muller in 1970 - with 10 - has a player scored as many goals.

Ronaldo has also now matched the legendary Pele's 12 goals for Brazil in World Cup finals, while he is just two behind Muller's all-time record of 14, so providing he can stay injury free he will surely break both marks in Germany in 2006.

That is of little consideration now as he just wants to party.

"It will take time for me to realise just what we have achieved," he said. "But I am so very happy right now. Having the World Cup in my hands, it's one of the most wonderful moments I could ever dream of.

"To score two goals in a World Cup Final is beyond my wildest dreams. It is so marvellous and I just want to thank God, my family, my doctor and my physio, and those people closest to me.

"What's happened to me, and the goal records, it would never have happened if it hadn't been for my team-mates. They are marvellous, they are fighters. No individual victory can go beyond what this group has achieved.

"We have brought joy to millions of people, and although it will take time for me to figure out what has happened, it will always be surrounded by happiness.

"I am now going to celebrate, and, while I don't want to think about winning a sixth World Cup just yet because I want to enjoy this one, there will be new objectives and goals because I am an ambitious person."

Ronaldo was asked as to what was the greater achievement, winning the World Cup, or going for such a long period of time without sex.

Both the question, and his response, brought a great deal of amusement as he said: "Both are difficult, although I'll be having sex shortly!

"But nothing is as rewarding as winning the World Cup. It's not that sex isn't good, but the World Cup is only every four years - sex isn't."

For every hero, there is a villain, and on this occasion it was the previously unbeatable, and seemingly irrepressible, Oliver Kahn.

Germany's foundation on which their tournament has been built was left a crumpled figure after spilling Rivaldo's 68th-minute shot which Ronaldo tapped home from four yards.

Although damaging ligaments to the ring finger of his right hand minutes earlier, the German captain and a goalkeeper rated the best in the world did not make that an excuse for the one moment in the competition when he looked fallible.

There was nothing he could do about Ronaldo's second, though, for after one touch to control Kleberson's right-wing cross - superbly dummied by Rivaldo - he then drove home superbly from 16 yards.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who finds himself out of a job as his contract has now expired, spoke with tears welling in his eyes as he said: "I feel happiness and joy, probably the same joy the people of Brazil are feeling right now.

"It is the joy of knowing that we did our job, a job that took a lot of hard work and we feel the merit of winning all seven of our matches (a feat not achieved since Brazil in 1970).

"It is a historical moment as Brazil is back as the world champion, and I want to thank the Brazilian people.

"I want to say you touched our team very much, and we will now celebrate together, while I want to say to my family that I miss them very much. To my son...we are five-time world champions."