Ronaldo competes in the 1998 World Cup. Action Images / Darren Walsh

It sent commentators, pundits and journalists in Paris into a frenzy—England striker Gary Lineker would term it “the biggest wind-up in World Cup football history”—until another team sheet arrived. This time with Ronaldo's name on it. So, was it a mistake? An oversight? A tactic? It was later revelaed that Ronaldo had experienced convulsions in his hotel room, making him unconscious for several minutes and leaving roommate Roberto Carlos quaking with fear. He would spend three hours in a hospital undergoing tests and medication. They couldn't find anything conclusive. “It was like the convulsions never happened," he told the BBC in 2014. Ronaldo did turn up for kickoff after all, but was not even a shadow of the phenomenon he was before and after in the final that the holders lost 3-0.

Three yellow cards, one red-faced ref

In unarguably the most bizarre gaffe in World Cup history, Croatia's Josip Simunic was sent off after receiving a third yellow card in a 2-2 draw with Australia in the 2006 finals. English referee Graham Poll had first booked Simunic in the 61st minute and then again in the 89th. Incredibly, however, he failed to send him off. Eventually he did, after Simunic's third offence in added time. But the damage had been done. Poll was sent home after the game, never to officiate in the event again. So, what explains it? "In the 89th minute, when I produced the yellow," Poll was quoted as saying by ESPN. "I wrote down the right jersey number but the wrong name. I had inadvertently given the yellow to the Australian No. 3, Craig Moore."

Chile fans have a crack at entry—literally

Chile had quite a memorable 2014 World Cup in Brazil, beating Spain and Australia in the group stage and taking the hosts to penalties in the Round of 16. But as much as their footballers left a mark there, so did their fans. Ahead of the team's showdown with Spain at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, dozens of Chile fans broke though barriers and fences and stormed their way into the press room in the hope of finding a way into the stadium. These were fans without tickets and wouldn't return without having a crack at entry—literally. Dodging the security, they took over the press room, toppling chairs and televisions, and, as one journalist live-tweeted, "literally punched hole in wall". A few fans were detained by security while some others reportedly managed to enter the stands breaking another barricade.

Les Miserables

Suspensions, revolts and resignations marred one of the most controversial and cheerless World Cups in the history of France football. It began with French sports daily L’Equipe publishing Nicolas Anelka’s alleged abusive remarks to coach Raymond Domenech during the half-time of France's group stage defeat to Mexico. With Anelka refusing to apologise, the French federation sent him home. In the team's next training session, captain Patrice Evra and fitness coach Robert Duverne had to be pulled apart after a visibly heated confrontation. It led to the entire team storming off the ground and refusing to train. Coach Domenech then read out a letter on behalf of the players to the media. "All the players without exception want to declare their opposition to the decision taken by the FFF to exclude Nicolas Anelka from the squad," Domenech read. The France team director quit while the federation slammed the "unacceptable" behaviour of the players. Unsurprisingly, France lost their last group game against South Africa to crash out at the group stage.