Ronaldo, Ronaldinho to share World Cup experience in Dubai
dubai — Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, two of Brazil’s biggest stars, will share the dais at the 13th Dubai International Sports Conference on January 2 with Didier Deschamps, who won the World Cup with France as captain in 1998 and coach in 2018.
The three will share their experience of winning the Fifa World Cup with Blaise Matuidi — a key player in the 2018 French World Cup win — at a session titled “The World Cup Experience and Value of Success” at the Madinat Conference Centre in Madinat Jumeirah.
Ronaldo and Ronaldinho were both part of the 2002 Brazilian squad that won their fifth World Cup title, defeating Germany in the final.
Both Ronaldo and Ronaldinho sizzled in that campaign, with Ronaldo bagging the Golden Boot for his eight goals and Ronaldinho scoring a memorable goal in the quarterfinal against England – a stunning free-kick from almost 40 yards out over the unprepared David Seaman.
Known as ‘O Fenomeno’ (The Phenomenon), Ronaldo was also a member of Brazil’s World Cupwinning team of 1994 and played a starring role in taking the team to the final at the 1998 World Cup, where they lost 0-3 to hosts France.
Ronaldo is also a three-time winner of the Fifa World Player of the Year award (1996, 1997 and 2002) and also won the Golden Ball (player of the tournament award) at the 1998 World Cup. He is the second-highest goal-scorer for Brazil, behind Pele.
Ronaldinho is celebrated as one of the most-gifted players of his generation, and one of the greatest of all time. Two Fifa World Player of the Year trophies (2004, 2005) and a Ballon d’Or adorning his shelf are a testimony to his audacious talents.
Deschamps, meanwhile, has the honour of being one of only three men in history, alongside Brazilian Mario Zagallo and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer, to win the World Cup as a player and manager. Having won the title at home in 1998, he was the Les Bleus boss earlier this year as they clinched the World Cup crown in Russia.
The star-studded list for the 13th edition of Dubai International Sports Conference also includes Gianni Infantino, Fifa president, who will be making his fifth consecutive appearance at DISC.
Infantino will be taking centrestage in the noon session titled, ‘More than a Game’.
The Dubai International Sports Conference has been bringing football’s top stakeholders together since 2006 for extensive discussions on the game.