Ronaldo is undoubtedly the hero of the Brazilian side after scoring both of Brazil's goals.
He was given a huge cheer when he was substituted just before the end of the match.
He has now laid to rest the ghost of Paris four years ago when he suffered some kind of a attack just before the last World Cup final and then he and the rest of the Brazilian team put up such a poor performance against France.
That incident provoked an investigation which went all the way to congress.
For months last year the country heard allegation after allegation of corruption against top figures in Brazilian football.
Disillusioned fans have been staying away from the stadiums and at the start of the World Cup most Brazilians were dismissing their team as mediocre losers who had struggled to even qualify, losing to Latin American teams they would normally thrash.
But all that has now been forgotten in the euphoria of a World Cup victory.
This is especially welcome as it comes when Brazil is going through hard times.
"We're poor people," said Rodolfo Castelo - another of the fans celebrating on Copacabana beach.