Brazil and France will meet today in a repeat of the 1998 World Cup Final, which the French – who were also hosts of the tournament – would go on to win 3-0, thanks to a brace from Zinedine Zidane, and another from former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit.
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The match was shrouded in controversy as Brazil’s star striker Ronaldo was taken ill hours before the game, and was initially left off the teamsheet, however at the last minute, the 21-year-old was reinstated, but failed to have an impact on the game. Still to this day, no one is quite sure what happened to the forward.
Here is what the finalists from seventeen years ago are up to now:
France
Fabian Barthez
Retired in 2007, and now more involved in motorsport, competing in the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Lilian Thuram
Left Barcelona in 2008, and is more involved in political issues nowadays.
Marcel Desailly
Finished his playing career in Qatar nearly a decade ago, now spends more time doing media and charity work.
Frank Leboeuf
Like his former Chelsea teammate, he finished his playing days in the middle-East. Now an actor, who had a brief role in The Theory of Everything.
Bixente Lizarazu
Left Bayern Munich in 2006, and became a European Champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2009.
Didier Deschamps
Retired in 2001, and became a successful manager, and now manages the national side.
Christian Karembeu
Retired in 2006, and now serves as strategic advisor to former club Olympiakos.
Emmanuel Petit
Left Chelsea in 2004. More recently, he has been an analyst for French television.
Zinedine Zidane
Retired somewhat in disgrace in 2006. Now manages Real Madrid’s Castilla side, and has been earmarked as a future coach of the main side.
Youri Djorkaeff
Ended up at Bolton and Blackburn in the latter stages of his career. He moved into music briefly.
Stephane Guivarc’h
The former Newcastle flop retired in 2002. Was later voted as the worst Premier League’s worst ever striker.
Subs
Alain Boghossian
Retired in 2003, and is now Deschamps’s assistance with the national side.
Christophe Dugarry
Left Birmingham in 2004, and retired a year later. Despite scoring six goals for the Midlands club, he is in their hall of fame.
Patrick Vieira
Retired in 2011, and now manages Manchester City’s reserve side.
Brazil
Taffarel
Retired in 2003, and now splits his time as goalkeeping coach between Galatasaray and the national side.
Cafu
Led the team to World Cup glory four years later, and it was another four years after that before he quit international football.
Aldair
Carried on playing until 2010, when he was in his mid-forties.
Junior Baiano
Retired in 2009, and now manages Santa Helana in his home country.
Roberto Carlos
Finished a glittering career in 2012. Now manages Turkish club Akhisar Belediyespor.
Cesar Sampaio
Retired in 2004, and is now sporting director at Palmeiras.
Dunga
Like his opposing captain in the 1998 final, Dunga now manages his national side.
Rivaldo
Only retired last year, and is now a director at final club Mogi Mirim .
Leonardo
Retired in 2003, and was Pari Saint-Germain’s sporting director until 2013.
Bebeto
Stopped playing thirteen years ago, and now is involved in Brazilian politics.
Ronaldo
Retired in 2011, but could make a comeback with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, a club he co-owns.
Subs
Denilson
Finished his career in 2010, after signing for Greek side Kavala, before leaving without playing a single game.
Edmundo
Retired in 2008, and was a coach for a short time at former club Vasco da Gama.