12 July 1998 - Zidane Gets It Done

On 12 July 1998, hosts France won the World Cup, beating Brazil 3-0 with a brace from midfielder Zinedine Zidane (pictured).

Going into the match, Brazil appeared to have the edge on offense with a powerful attack that included the likes of Ronaldo--who had scored four goals in the tournament--as well as Bebeto, Rivaldo, and César Sepaio, who had scored three goals each. For France, meanwhile, only Thierry Henry (3) and Lilian Thuram (2) had scored more than once. Defensively, however, France had the advantage, having conceded only two goals in the earlier rounds while Brazil managed to keep only a single clean sheet.

Ronaldo was doubtful for the match, having gone into convulsions the night before, but Brazil made a very late decision to include him in the starting lineup. Playing before a crowd of approximately 75,000 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Zidane provided the opening goal with a header in the 27th minute. It was the first goal of the tournament for the Juventus star, who then provided a second in quick fashion, doubling the lead right before the break.

Although the French defensive midfield pair of Didier Deschamps and Christian Karembeu did well to disrupt the Brazilian attack, Ronaldo still had a couple of decent chances, but was unable to convert. Even after France went down a man in the 68th minute after Marcel Desailly received a second yellow card, the Brazilians could not take advantage. Midfielder Emmanuel Petit then provided the capstone to the victory with a goal in the 90th minute.

It was the completion of an annus miribilis for Zidane, who had already won that year's Serie A title and reached the Champions League final with Juventus. He went on to claim the 1998 Ballon d'Or and the FIFA Player of the Year award as well.

2 November 1997 - The Center Is Probably Still Holding It

On 2 November 1997, football featured on The Simpsons for the first--but not last--time.

That day's episode, titled "The Cartridge Family," centered on the problems created by Homer's purchase of a handgun. But it opened with the Simpson family attending a match between Mexico and Portugal, lured by the possibility of getting autographs from stars such as "Ariaga, Ariaga II, Bariaga, Aruglia, and Pizzoza!" There's also an appearance by Pelé, who receives a sack of cash for promoting Crestfield Wax Paper.

The Springfield crowd soon gets bored with the match (in contrast to the foreign announcer, based on Andrés Cantor, who loudly describes the action as the "center holds it! Holds it! HOLDS IT!") and erupts into violence. It starts when Lenny punches Principal Skinner, but turns into a full-blown riot when Groundskeeper Willie and his Scottish friends jump into the fray. After it spreads out of the stadium, Mayor Quimby declares mob rule, which results in Homer getting a gun.

Football returned to The Simpsons 10 years later with a guest appearance by Ronaldo.

30 June 2002 - Enough World Cups To Fill A Cabinet

On 30 June 2002, Brazil won their record fifth World Cup trophy, beating Germany 2-0 before a crowd of 69,029 at the International Stadium in Yokohama, Japan. It is the only time the two World Cup powers have met in the tournament.

Brazil reached the Final with a perfect record, having won all three of their group stage matches, then advancing through the knockout rounds with victories over Belgium (2-0), England (2-1), and Turkey (1-0). Forward Ronaldo scored a total of six goals in those earlier rounds, making him the tournament's top scorer. Meanwhile, the only smudge on Germany's campaign was a 1-1 draw with Ireland in the group stage before reaching the Final with wins over Paraguay (1-0), the United States (1-0), and co-hosts South Korea (1-0).

Ronaldo continued his scoring touch in the Final, opening with a 67th-minute goal after German keeper and captain Oliver Kahn spilled the ball at Ronaldo's feet. He beat Kahn again in the 79th minute with a shot from the top of the box to extend Brazil's lead t0 2-0, where it would remain until the final whistle.

Ronaldo won the tournament's Golden Boot award and finished second to Kahn in voting for the Golden Ball award as the tournament's most valuable player.

22 April 2007 - Ronald'oh!

On 22 April 2007, three-time FIFA World Player of the Year and all-time World Cup scoring leader Ronaldo moved from the football pitch to the small screen with a guest appearance on The Simpsons. He provided the voice for an animated version of himself in the episode that aired that night.

The episode's main plot concerned Marge's and Bart's participation in an online game called "Earthland Realms." Ronaldo showed up in the secondary plot in which Homer becomes a referee for Lisa's football match.

Homer awards a free kick when Lisa takes a dive, but when she tries a second dive, Ronaldo arrives and explains to Homer how "floppers" are ruining the sport. In response, Homer shows Lisa a yellow card, but she tears it up, forcing Homer to show her a red. As she exits the pitch, Ronaldo shouts "Another family broken up by Ronaldo! Yes!"

Ronaldo appears again near the end of the episode as Homer and the kids are playing football in their back yard. Homer demonstrates some impressive moves, to which Ronaldo says "Ha ha ha, I have taught you well," then thinks to himself "Too well."

While promotional images for the episode showed Ronaldo in his Brazil kit (as pictured), he appears in the episode wearing the all-white home kit of Real Madrid, his club at the time.

8 March 2009 - Ronaldo Returns To Form

On 8 March 2009, Brazilian three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldo scored an injury-time equalizer for Corinthians in their match against Palmeiras. It was his first goal after recovering from a potentially career-ending knee injury suffered over a year earlier while playing for AC Milan.

The striker had a history of knee problems, with two separate injuries to his right knee while playing for Inter (1997-2002). He battled back both times and recovered in time to help Brazil win the 2002 World Cup and claim his third FIFA World Player of the Year award. In January 2007, he joined Milan after five seasons with Real Madrid. On 13 February 2008, he injured his left knee while leaping for a cross in a 1-1 draw with Livorno. The injury ended his season and there was speculation that it would end his career as well.

Ronaldo, however, was determined to return. He returned to Brazil and started training with Flamengo to rehabilitate his knee. The Rio club indicated their willingness to sign him once he was able to play, but, in December 2009, he controversially signed instead with their league rivals Corinthians.

On 4 March 2009, he made his first appearance for Corinthians, coming on as a substitute in Copa do Brasil match against Itumbiara. In the match against Palmeiras on 8 March, he again entered as a substitute, coming on in the 63rd minute with his side down 1-0. He quickly made his presence felt, sending a booming strike off the crossbar in the 78th minute, before heading in the equalizing goal in the 93rd minute. He ran behind the goal to celebrate with the Corinthians supporters, causing a mild pitch invasion.

Ronaldo finished the season with 10 goals in 14 matches and recently signed an extension to remain at Corinthians through 2011.

18 September 1976 - Looking For A Birthday Present? Try A Silverware Case.

On 18 September 1976, future Galactico and Brazilian star striker Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima, more commonly known simply as "Ronaldo," was born Rio de Janeiro.

In 1993, Ronaldo signed his first professional contract with Brazilian club Cruzeiro, but made only 14 appearances for them (and scoring 12 goals) before transferring to PSV Eindhoven in 1994 for a fee of $6 million. He rose to prominence with Eindhoven, scoring 54 goals in 57 appearances. He was the Eredivisie's top scorer in his first season and helped propel Eindhoven to the Dutch Cup trophy in his second season.

Ronaldo hasn't stayed particularly long with any club, leaving PSV after two seasons for Barcelona. He stayed at Barça for the 1996-97 season, then moved to Inter (1997-2002), Real Madrid (2002-07), and Milan (2007-08 ). Along the way, he earned numerous team honors, including the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1997, with Barça), UEFA Cup (1998, with Inter), and La Liga title (2003 and 2007, with Real). He also led Brazil to the World Cup title in 1994 and 2002.

Ronaldo claimed an ample supply of individual awards as well, including the European Golden Boot (1996-97), UEFA Most Valuable Player (1997-98), World Cup Golden Ball (1998), and the Ballon d'Or (1997, 2002). He is one of only two people (the other being Zinedine Zidane) to be named the FIFA World Player of the Year three times (1996, 1997, 2002).

In February 2008, Ronaldo suffered a potentially career-ending knee injury while playing for Milan. Released at the end of the season, Ronaldo trained with Brazilian side Flamengo during his recovery before controversially signing with rivals Corinthians in 2009.

27 June 2006 - This Ronaldo Played For Real Madrid, Too

On 27 June 2006, Brazilian striker Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima scored in a World Cup match against Ghana. It was Ronaldo's 15th World Cup goal, breaking the previous record of 14 which had been set in 1974 by West German striker Gerhard "Gerd" Müller.

Ronaldo had already netted twice in the group stages of the tournament and was widely tipped to score the record-breaking goal in the Round of 16 against Ghana. Few predicted the speed with which he would score it, however. In the 5th minute, Brazilian midfielder/forward Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite ("Kaká") threaded a pass through to Ronaldo, leaving him one-on-one against the Ghanian keeper. Ronaldo sent the keeper the wrong way, slipped past him and prodded the ball into the empty net.

The goal also set another record - with his third of the tournament, Ronaldo joined German striker Jürgen Klinsmann as the only two people to score at least three goals in three separate World Cups.

Brazil went on to defeat Ghana 3-0, but lost to France 0-1 in the quarterfinals.

20 May 2004 - A Birthday Present Only FIFA Could Give (To Itself)

On 20 May 2004, FIFA organized a friendly re-match of the 1998 World Cup Final between France and Brazil. FIFA was founded on 21 May 1904 and organized the match to honor its centennial.

The friendly, like the original match, was played at Paris' Stade de France, but this time before a crowd of 79,344 - a new attendance record for the French national team. The match featured a virtual galaxy of stars, including Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Kaká for Brazil and Marcel Desailly, Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, and David Trezeguet for Les Bleus.

Unlike the 1998 Final, which was a 3-0 victory for France, the friendly ended as a scoreless draw. That in itself was historic, as never before in the ten previous meetings between the two countries had a match ended without a goal.