Former Brazil defender Lúcio visited the FIFA Museum in Zurich on Wednesday, 15 January to relive the pinnacle of his career and leave his mark on the iconic Wall of Champions. He was accompanied by ex-Italy attacker and fellow world champion Vincenzo Iaquinta.

It has been over 20 years since Lúcio first lifted football’s most famous prize at the 2002 FIFA World Cup™, but the memories and emotions came flooding back to him. “It’s a thrill like the first time; it’s an immense joy to have fulfilled the dream I had as a child while watching the World Cup on television,” he said as he held the FIFA World Cup Trophy.

The Brazilian was visiting the FIFA Museum for the first time. To mark this momentous debut, he added – as tradition demands – a golden pin and his signature to the hallowed Wall of Champions.

The now retired centre-back started and ended his playing days in his native Brazil and was a stalwart for his country, earning 105 caps and scoring four goals. He played an instrumental role in the World Cup triumph at Korea/Japan 2002, starting in all seven matches.

Asked about his favourite memories of that tournament, Lúcio recalled: “The best moment of the 2002 World Cup was undoubtedly the referee’s final whistle in the final. It was the moment when you realise that you have fulfilled your dream. That moment, that title, has shaped my life and was undoubtedly the most important and greatest success of my career.”

While victory on the world stage with Brazil was Lúcio’s career highlight, the now 46-year-old also enjoyed plenty of success at club level. In 2010, he tasted UEFA Champions League glory with Inter Milan and subsequently triumphed at the FIFA Club World Cup™. Among other silverware, he also won Serie A with the Nerazzurri and claimed three league titles in Germany with Bayern Munich.

In Iaquinta, meanwhile, the FIFA Museum was welcoming back a familiar face. It was just a year ago that the former striker last visited the museum and lifted the World Cup Trophy. During that visit, the Udinese and Juventus legend, his compatriot Marco Amelia and Germany’s Roman Weidenfeller were all immortalised on the Wall of Champions.