‘I went into Brazil’s dressing room before the 1998 World Cup final to check Ronaldo was OK after his convulsions– I told him, “Don’t leave me out there playing alone”’ Youri Djorkaeff recalls the troubled build-up to the France vs Brazil final

Youri Djorkaeff.

The build-up to the 1998 World Cup final is one of the most surreal episodes in modern football history.

After lighting up the tournament on the Seleção’s way to the final, striker Ronaldo suffered what was then a mysterious medical episode in the hours before kick-off.