For years France had produced exceptional footballers, yet the nation had never lifted the World Cup. Hosting the tournament offered a chance to change that history, but it also carried immense pressure.
Led by Zinedine Zidane, France grew stronger as the competition progressed. The final against Brazil presented the ultimate challenge: defeating the reigning champions and the tournament's biggest star, Ronaldo. Instead, France delivered a performance that exceeded every expectation.
As celebrations erupted across Paris, the victory became about more than football. The tournament created one of the defining sporting moments in French history and announced the arrival of a new global power.
Before the final, Ronaldo had been the tournament's defining player, combining explosive pace with clinical finishing to lead Brazil back to another World Cup final. Although the tournament ended in disappointment, his performances throughout the competition earned him recognition as its outstanding player.
Davor Šuker guided Croatia to an extraordinary third-place finish while becoming the tournament's leading scorer. His finishing, intelligence, and consistency turned Croatia's debut World Cup appearance into one of the competition's greatest surprise stories.
