He was smiling when he walked into the media conference, but before many journalists in the room could even start recording what he was saying, Ronaldo was off again. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored in the previous four tournaments and now has eight World Cup goals to his name.ĭespite winning player of the match and making history on Thursday, Ronaldo wasn’t in a talkative mood.Īfter the coaches of Portugal and Ghana spoke to reporters in the post-match media conference, it was Ronaldo’s turn to answer questions.
It’s yet another record to add to Ronaldo’s glittering career and a reminder to everyone that he can still make the difference when it really matters. The goal had added significance with Ronaldo becoming the first male player in history to score at five World Cups – a feat Brazilian striker Marta became the first player to achieve back in 2019. It was never in doubt who would take the penalty: Ronaldo picked up the ball and rifled it into the top corner of the net before running to his adoring fans in celebration. With his team searching for the breakthrough, Ronaldo used his body to get in front of Mohammed Salisu and hit the floor when he felt contact from behind. If his body might be losing its power, his footballing brain remains as sharp as ever. Siphiwe Sibeko/ReutersĬanada loses to Belgium in first World Cup match for 36 years And a year later she was back in the global spotlight at the FIFA Women's World Cup USA 2003.Belgium's Michy Batshuayi celebrates after scoring against Canada. Marta caught people's eyes when she took part in the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship Canada 2002 at the age of 16. Her amazing dribbling skills, incredible quick pace and innate scoring instinct stunned the world and gifted Brazil their first-ever final berth. Marta, the most shinning star at the 2007 World Cup, has scored seven times to top the scorer list so far. She is like a fast tank up front and always exerts great pressure on the opponents' defense. She scored four goals in the ongoing World Cup, including a hat-trick in the opener against Argentina. The 1.79-meter-tall exceptional striker also won FIFA World Player Award in a row from 2003 to 2005.īefore the 2007 World Cup in China, Prinz, 29, had surpassed Heidi Mohr's all-time national scoring record of 83 goals with 90 goals from 143 games. They are the ace players to watch in the final which will give the answer to who is superior.Īs an icon of the German women's football, Prinz, who made her international debut as a 16-year-old in 1994, has accumulated a list of honours: World Cup winner in 2003, runner-up in 1995 Olympic Bronze medallist in 20 UEFA European Championship winner in 1995, 1997, 20 UEFA Cup winner in 20 German Championship winner in 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 20 German Cup winner in 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 20 and Super Cup winner in 1996. On the team scoring tally, Germany are at the top with 19 goals for and none against, an incredible clean sheet, while Brazil are following tightly with scoring 17 times but conceding twice.īoth teams boast world-class strikers, Birgit Prinz for Germany and Marta for Brazil. The previous four World Cup champions were the United States (1991, 1999), Norway (1995) and Germany (2003). If Brazil win, they will be the first South American side to take the trophy and the best result for the traditional soccer giant in women's world arena.
If Germany win, they will break the jinx that not a single team can defend the title. No matter who win, they will create history in the 16-year-old tournament. This is the first final in a FIFA women's competition pairing a European and a South American team. Brazil's Formiga (L), Cristiane (C) and Marta celebrate after their team scored against the US during the semi-final soccer match in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup at the Hangzhou Dragon Stadium in Hangzhou, September 27, 2007. SHANGHAI - Reigning champions Germany and Athens Olympic runners-up Brazil, the two best attacking teams in the fifth FIFA Women's World Cup, will clash in the eye-catching final in Shanghai on Sunday.
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