Only 20 at the time of France 98, and competing with the experienced Bebeto for the role of Ronaldo's striking partner, the quicksilver winger was restricted to second-half cameo appearances by Brazil coach Mario Zagallo.

But that was enough for the footballing cognoscenti to label him as the brightest prospect at the tournament.

Blessed with an almost limitless repertoire of dribbling skills, a mesmerising shimmy and a great left foot, the Sao Paulo player was targeted by most of Europe's leading clubs.

Surprisingly it was the relatively unknown Spanish first division side Real Betis who ended up splashing out a world-record £24m to secure the player's services.

WEIGHED HEAVILY

But the tag of the world's most expensive player weighed heavily on the Brazilian's young shoulders and he found it difficult to adapt to the demands of European football.

Betis were hardly the easiest of club's at which to settle. Club president Manuel Ruiz de Lopera has a voracious appetite for coaches and Denilson had four different men at the helm inside his first six months in Spain.

Two rather anonymous seasons at Betis ended in relegation and Denilson, deemed too skilful and too delicate to face the rigours of life in the second division, was farmed out back to Brazil in a loan deal with Flamengo in September 2000.

A mere four months later the Brazilian was forced to return to Betis after Flamengo failed to keep up their payments.

'It is true I didn't want to play in the second division but when I returned to play there it was a key moment in my career as a footballer. I decided would have to start enjoying football again and that's when I started to hit form again.'

Betis secured their promotion, Denilson earned a recall to the Brazilian national side and was one of the few players to come out of their disappointing Copa America campaign with an enhanced reputation.

With the fees Real Madrid splashed out for Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane dwarfing the sum Betis paid for him Denilson has admitted a considerable burden has been lifted.

Given more freedom to roam by Betis's new coach Jaunde Ramos Denilson has been dazzling form this season, tormenting opposition defences and playing an instrumental role in guiding them to the upper reaches of the first division.