Denilson of Brazil in 1998 Photo: IC

Denilson de Oliveira, better known simply as Denilson, was once the most expensive footballer on the planet.

When he signed for Spain's Real Betis in 1998 the move cost the Seville-based side 21.5 million pounds, a cool 2 million more than his international teammate Ronaldo had cost Inter Milan from Barcelona.

Even then, eyebrows were raised but Denilson had his fans beyond the Betis boardroom.

Brazil international coach Mario Zagallo, who had guided the Selecao to the 1994 World Cup with a young Ronaldo wearing the name Ronaldinho on the back of his shirt as he watched from the bench, was chief among them.

Zagallo, who had won the World Cup as a player, saw the mercurially talented winger as a game changer from the bench.

"Denilson is a remarkable player, someone who can do the unexpected and damage the opposition suddenly," Zagallo said ahead of going to France for the 1998 World Cup. 

"We cannot win the World Cup with just 11 players."

Zagallo was almost as good as his word, in more than one sense.

In the end, Brazil fell short to hosts France in the final in Paris with the strange circumstances surrounding Ronaldo's fitness before the showpiece showdown proving that they needed one player to win.

Featured from the bench

Denilson had largely featured from the bench for Zagallo en route to the June finale in the French capital.

That started with a 2-1 win over Scotland in Brazil's opening game when Denilson was introduced from the bench after 72 minutes for USA 94 hero Bebeto.

Zagallo's lucky charm was on the pitch when Scotland's Thomas Boyd put into his own goal after 74 minutes to ensure an opening day win for the champions and top spot in Group A.

In the next game, Denilson was also called from the bench but the other boys from Brazil had already done the business and it was 3-0 when the winger entered the fray in the 87th minute against Morocco. Denilson replaced goalscorer Rivaldo.

The final group game of France 98 saw the rarest of things in Denilson's international career - a World Cup start.

Brazil lost 2-1 to Norway despite Bebeto putting them in front on 78 minutes before goals from Tore Andre Flo and Kjetil Rekdal. No matter, progress to the round of 16 was already secured, where they would face neighbors Chile.

Normal service resumed in Paris's Parc des Princes against Chile. Denilson entered the game on 65 minutes, replacing Bebeto again. During his time on the pitch Chilean striker Marcelo Salas pulled one back to make it 3-1 before Ronaldo added a fourth for Brazil two minutes later.

Next up for Brazil was Denmark and Zagallo's plan to inject fresh legs once more saw Bebeto's number up and Denilson called on, this time after 64 minutes. It was already 3-2 by then, as the score stayed.

The semifinal against the Netherlands saw Denilson called to come into the game on 70 minutes - once more for Bebeto - though he was helpless to prevent Patrick Kluivert from leveling for the Dutch on 87 minutes. The game went to extra time and then penalties but Denilson was not called upon to take a spot kick.

While the final will be remembered for whatever happened to Ronaldo beforehand, Denilson was called on at halftime for Leonardo. Brazil tried to chase the game but France - inspired by Zinedine Zidane - won out.

Premier substitute

They would have to wait four more years until the World Cup came to Japan and South Korea to exact their revenge and when they did new coach Luiz Felipe Scolari wanted Denilson there too.

Now more than ever Denilson cemented his place as the World Cup's premier substitute.

In their opener against Turkey, Denilson replaced Ronaldinho on 67 minutes. He was booked almost immediately. Rivaldo scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 win from the penalty spot in the 87th minute.

Against China in the next game, he was brought on at half time with Brazil already 3-0 up. Ronaldo made it four 10 minutes after the restart. Denilson did not play against Costa Rica in the final group game.

Denilson came off the bench against Belgium in the knockouts, replacing Juninho Paulista just before the hour mark. Brazil's goals came after his entrance.

Still Scolari found no need for him against England - perhaps as victory came so easily against the Three Lions - but the super sub was back for the semi against Turkey, joining the action after 75 minutes when he replaced Edilson.

Days later Brazil found themselves in another World Cup final and Denilson found himself watching on from the bench. 

Denilson would get to taste the action as he came on in stoppage time to replace man of the match Ronaldo as the striker and his country vanquished the memories of four years earlier.

The standing ovation was for the man coming off but Denilson deserved it as the player with the most World Cup appearances from the bench.

Denilson never played for Brazil again and his career never hit the heights that his price tag suggested but he had few regrets - and was a cult hero for starring in Nike's pre-tournament commercials in both 1998 and 2002.

Denilson was recently named the 28th greatest Brazilian footballer of all time in a poll by Four Four Two magazine. 

If they had a poll for best subs he would have been No.1.