Brazil's team captain and defender Cafu hoists the World Cup trophy after Brazil won 2-0 against Germany in match 64 of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea Japan final on 30 June 2002 at the International Stadium Yokohama in Japan. Brazil has now won a record five World Cup titles.Brazil previously was a FIFA World Cup winner in 1958, 1962, 1970 and 1994. Photo: AFP
The 2002 World Cup, the first played on Asian soil, ended in triumph for Brazil and in particular their great centre-forward Ronaldo after his two goals in the final saw off Germany and brought the trophy back to Brazil for the fifth time.
Korea/Japan was a graveyard for many of the pre-tournament big guns, while a handful of smaller footballing nations joyfully tore up pre-tournament predictions and achieved success beyond their wildest expectations.
Two of the so-called minnows, South Korea and Turkey, even got as far as the semi-finals.
The shocks came early: France lost the opening game 1-0 to Senegal who went on to reach the quarter-finals while the reigning world champions were eliminated without scoring a single goal.
England emerged victorious from their colossal tussle with old rivals Argentina thanks to a David Beckham penalty. The Argentines never really got going and took an early plane home, as did Portugal, who were beaten by a feisty United States side.
The home teams had not been given a hope before the action began, but when both Japan and South Korea moved into the second round it was clear they were not there simply to make up the numbers.
South Korea achieved an astonising victory over Italy which left Italian fans tearing their hair out in frustration.
The Italian's protests at dubious refereeing decisions found an echo in the Koreans next match against Spain, which went to penalties. But the Koreans, by this time inspired by near hysterical support, held their nerves and won the shoot-out.
England had made steady progress against tough teams but met their match against Brazil in the quarter-finals. A brilliant floated effort from Ronaldinho that fooled goalkeeper David Seaman gave the Brazilians the edge, and although the Brazilians played with ten men for much of the second half the outcome was never in doubt.
In the semi-finals Brazil finally ended Turkey's brave challenge, while on the other side of the draw German realism got the better of the inspired South Koreans.
Germany had never previously played Brazil in the World Cup, a strange twist which gave this titans clash an extra edge, especially as the great Ronaldo was back to his best.
Two goals by the maestro were enough to give Brazil the crown for an unprecedented fifth time.
Asia had successfully organised its first World Cup and the best team had won.
Despite the usual headaches over ticketing nothing - not even the hooligans - could get in the way of the most important thing of all: the football.