When Flonado defeated Ronaldo – What happened the last time Brazil played Norway in the FIFA World Cup?

Brazil and Norway meet on Sunday in the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the two meeting for the second time in the tournament’s history.

Norway remains the only team not to have beaten Brazil at the World Cup.

Ahead of their quarter-final match, Sportstar looks at what happened when Brazil and Norway last met in the quadrennial tournament.

Kjetil Rekdal converted an 89th-minute penalty and Norway rallied with two goals in the last seven minutes to advance to the second round of the 1998 FIFA World Cup with a dramatic 2–1 win over Brazil.

Trailing 0-1 and looking set to go out after the first round, Tore André Flo gave Norway hope with a remarkable individual effort in the 83rd minute.

Flo ran in a ball from deep at the back, tapped it into the center of the penalty area with one touch and beat goalkeeper Cláudio Taffarel with a goal from 12 meters.

American referee Esse Baharmast called Júnior Baiano for bringing down Flo as the two battled for possession of a high ball. Rekdal put his spot chance firmly into the bottom left corner of the net, and Norway reached the second round for the first time in three attempts.

Brazil controlled possession throughout and ultimately looked the sure winner when Bebeto converted Denilson’s cross with a header in the 78th minute. Denilson fell but still managed to retain possession, turning away from Norwegian defender Henning and hitting a left-footed cross across the penalty area.

Bebeto made his way through the penalty area, put his head on the ball and aimed it towards the center of the net.

Up to that point neither side had looked particularly inspired, but Brazil controlled possession and had the most dangerous chances. Ronaldo headed wide of the post from five yards in the fourth minute, but neither team looked particularly dangerous until the final twenty minutes.

The victory gave Norway five points and five goals in three games, a far cry from 1994 when they drew 1-1-1 and scored just once.

The only other time it reached the World Cup, in 1938, it was also eliminated in the first round.

The victory kept coach Egil Olsen in his job for a while. Olsen had said he would leave his post once Norway were out of the cup, and it looked like he was on his way out when Brazil led 1-0 with 12 minutes to go.

«It’s unbelievable. I didn’t believe this could happen,» said a delighted Olsen, «at least there will be one more game when I’m in charge.»

«I am not only happy, but also very proud. It is amazing what has happened.»

«I’m already thinking about the match against Italy. We have to recover quickly and prepare quickly. We shouldn’t get carried away by this victory.»

«I was deeply impressed by Brazil. They are very good with the ball and although the game was of course less important for them, I thought they were excellent and can go very far.»

Rekdal, who immediately became Norway’s hero with the penalty winner in the 89th minute, said: «It was tough, especially when Brazil scored, and we had to create more and more chances. This is the biggest sporting event in Norwegian history.»

“This is the most important goal I have ever scored,” said Flo.

Brazilian Ronaldo was no longer a threat to the Norwegians. When their own Tore Andre Flo scored against Brazil, he became ‘Flonaldo’ in their hearts forever.

«Finally we have shown the world who the engineers are. Now we are talking about ‘Flonaldo’ and not Ronaldo,» said Stian Drageset, 20, an engineering student from Oslo.

Together with thousands of other Norwegians, he had invaded the streets of Oslo on Tuesday. And Drageset’s car wasn’t the only one, and the traffic was full of cars.

«We are the best. We beat Brazil. Now we can go far,» cheered Morten Meier as he drove through the center of Oslo in an open car. Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, one of his country’s most enthusiastic football fans at the time, did not hesitate to greet him.

«Unbelievable, but true. Norway defeated Brazil at the World Cup. Thank you for your great effort and good luck later,» he wrote in a telegram to the Norwegian team.

(The above article is an extract from the Brazil vs Norway report published in The Hindu on June 25, 1998)

Published on July 5, 2026