Who was the top scorer in the 2002 FIFA World Cup?

Ronaldo was the top scorer at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, scoring eight goals for Brazil.

The tournament was co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, and Ronaldo scored in Brazil’s opening match against Turkey. He also found the net against China, Belgium and England before scoring both goals in the 2–0 final victory over Germany in Yokohama. His second final goal secured Brazil’s fifth World Cup title.

Ronaldo’s achievement was a major comeback. Four years earlier, he had struggled with a mysterious pre-final health episode before Brazil lost to France. At the 2002 tournament, he recovered his best form after serious knee injuries had disrupted his career.

Germany’s Miroslav Klose scored five goals, while Rivaldo scored five for Brazil, but neither matched Ronaldo’s total. Christian Vieri also scored five for Italy, making him another plausible-looking option but not the tournament’s leading scorer.