The clock was rapidly approaching 90 minutes when Denílson picked up the ball on the right-hand side of the Brazilian attack. The skilful winger, who was renowned for entering the action in the dying embers, glided past one defender and drove into the box. As he engaged a second opponent, he might have been forgiven for seeing his name in lights, with an opportunity to go for glory and seal a sensational semi-final triumph for his country. Instead, he changed course and dribbled away from the danger zone.
What followed was one of the most memorable scenes from Brazil’s record-breaking fifth conquest of football’s biggest prize at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™.
With four Türkiye defenders hot on his heels, Denílson made a beeline for the corner. As he approached the touchline, he drew a foul and earned a precious free-kick to eat away the seconds, helping Brazil over the line and into the decider. It was a moment that captured the essence of a player who, though rarely a starter, made his presence felt during both of the FIFA World Cups™ in which he featured.
In all, Denílson racked up 12 World Cup appearances. He was summoned from the bench in 11 of those outings, making him the outright record holder in that regard.
Players with most World Cup substitute appearances
Denílson’s sole inclusion in a World Cup starting XI came in Brazil’s third group-stage game at France 1998. With their advancement to the knockout phase already assured, Mario Zagallo fielded a much-changed side. Denílson provided an assist for Bebeto to break the deadlock, but late goals from Tore Andre Flo and Kjetil Rekdal snatched Norway a 2-1 win.
That was the first of the winger’s two World Cup goal involvements. The other came in Brazil’s very next tussle: a round-of-16 bout with continental foes Chile. Twenty minutes into the second period, Denílson replaced the same player he had teed up against Norway. It took just five minutes for the 20-year-old to set up Ronaldo, who made no mistake in culminating a free-flowing move to round off an emphatic 4-1 victory.
Indeed, Denílson was one of the main aces up Zagallo’s sleeve during the campaign on French soil, where Brazil eventually finished as runners-up to the hosts. In four of the six contests in which the No19 rose from the bench, it was Bebeto who made way for him.
In 2002, however, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was less predictable with his changes. After replacing Ronaldinho in the first two showdowns, against Türkiye and China PR, Denílson came on three more times for three different players.
One of those cameos was particularly special. With the curtain coming down on the tournament showpiece at International Stadium Yokohama, the Diadema native replaced Ronaldo, whose brace had Brazil leading Germany 2-0. Moments later his 11th substitute appearance in the global finals was over and Denilson was a world champion.
