Rivaldo wants Ronaldo to win Golden Boot (29.06.2002)
YOKOHAMA
Brazilian playmaker Rivaldo said Friday he wanted team-mate Ronaldo to win the Golden Boot award for the World Cup`s leading scorer as compensation for all he has been through in the last four years.
Rivaldo, who has five goals to Ronaldo`s six, said he was not concerned about winning the award himself.
"I`m really not bothered about winning the Golden Boot. The most important thing is that Brazil win the World Cup," said Rivaldo.
"But I would like Ronaldo to win it because I know it would mean a lot to him and because he
deserves it after all that he has been through."
Ronaldo suffered a convulsion before the 1998 World Cup final against France but played anyway in circumstances that have never been fully explained as Brazil lost 3-0.
He was out of action for five months following long-overdue knee surgery at the end of 1999 and broke down again only minutes into his comeback match, the Italian Cup final.
Three muscle injuries further hampered his comeback but he regained fitness in the months leading up to the tournament, although he admits he is still not 100 percent fit.
