Russian Oleg Salenko and Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov shared the Golden Shoe as the World Cup’s top goal scorers.
Each scored six times-Salenko in three matches and Stoichkov in seven. It’s the fifth straight World Cup in which someone’s scored six goals.
Roberto Baggio of Italy and Romario of Brazil entered Sunday’s final needing one goal to tie for the lead, but both were shut out.
The Golden Ball, which goes to the most valuable player, was awarded to Romario.
A record, by far: The final drew 94,194 to the Rose Bowl, boosting the 52-match attendance to a record 3,567,415. Italia ’90 drew 2,517,348.
Only in Americas: Italy’s defeat means Europe is still 0-for-the-Americas in World Cup finals. Brazil, which took the title in Sweden in 1958, remains the only nation to win the World Cup in another hemisphere.
On the trophy: The present World Cup was designed by an Italian, Silvio Gazzaniga, an Italian sculptor, created the 18-karat solid gold trophy. It stands 14 inches and weighs 11 pounds. The original World Cup was awarded permanently to Brazil after it became the first three-time winner in 1970. The trophy was stolen in 1983 and, according to rumor, was melted down by the thieves. The Brazilian Football Association replaced it with a duplicate.
Face in the crowd: Several members of the U.S. national team attended, including defender Alexi Lalas, a Michigan native who wore a Detroit Red Wings cap over his bright red hair.
Seen after the match: A fan wearing a No. 16 Brazil jersey was led out of the Rose Bowl in handcuffs. No. 16 belongs to midfielder Leonardo, who was banned for the rest of the tournament for elbowing the U.S. Tab Ramos and breaking a bone in his head.
Ceremonial: The closing ceremonies were a bit overdone, much like the ones that opened the tournament June 17 in Soldier Field. Saxophone player Kenny G played the national anthem and Whitney Houston sung a variety of pop songs. It ended with several members of the U.S. national team and hundreds of youth-league players running onto the field with the World Cup trophy.
