The 1998 FIFA World Cup tournament was hosted and won by France. The Brazilians were heavy favorites to repeat as champions and nearly accomplished the rare feat. (Italy and Brazil remain the only two nations to win consecutive World Cups.) Brazil won its group and then cruised by its Chilean neighbors in the round of 16. The Seleçãos were then seriously challenged in the next two matches. After a tight 3-2 victory over Denmark in the quarters, they barely got by Netherlands on penalty kicks (4-2) in the semis before ultimately getting shut out 3-0 in the final by the host nation. It simply wasn’t meant to be for Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Bebeto and company.
Featured here is a 1998 World Cup silver medal awarded to a player on the Brazil National Team. Only players, coaches and a few select executives of the Brazil Football Confederation (CFB) were issued a second-place winner’s medal, and this one was presented to Brazil goalkeeper Carlos Germano who backed-up starting keeper Taffarel on the ’98 World Cup squad. While Germano did not play in the final, he was on the field with his teammates when this very medal was presented to him by FIFA at Stade de France following France’s big victory. Losing in the World Cup Final may have been viewed as a failure by Brazil and its passionate fan base, but every other nation in the world would consider the runners-up finish a major accomplishment.
Made of Sterling Silver by renowned Italian designer Bertoni, the front features a relief image of the FIFA World Cup trophy and the reverse has a raised "COUPE DU MONDE DE LA FIFA FRANCE 1998" announcing the event in French. The "925" Sterling hallmark and manufacturer "G.D.E. Bertoni" are stamped on the bottom edge. The medal measures 50 mm in diameter and weighs 45 grams. It is looped to a long red, white and blue ribbon in honor of the French flag. The medal has some edge wear and minor handling. The ribbon is fully intact and in excellent shape; it just needs to be ironed.
To our knowledge this is just the second silver winner’s medal issued to a Brazilian player on the ’98 World Cup squad offered previously. (Their ’98 World Cup roster had 22 players.) This time, the player is not anonymous. In fact, the lot comes with a letter of provenance Germano with photo-evidence of him signing the sheet of paper when he sold the jersey.