Ronaldo's career went into a downward spiral after the well publicised break-down that debilitated Brazil in their final against France four years ago, but, only now back to his best the marksman grabbed two priceless goals to take his tournament tally to eight - and seal the golden boot.
Germany's two best World Cup performers Didi Hamann and Oliver Kahn contrived to hand the striker the crucial opener, with the Liverpool man delaying his clearance and being robbed by a tenacious Ronaldo.
A swift lay off to Rivaldo gave the Barcelona man a shot on goal, and with his first mistake of the tournament Kahn spilled the ball when he should have gathered, and found Ronaldo on hand to poke home.
Minutes later a simply breathtaking move by the Brazilians put the result beyond doubt when Rivaldo stepped over a Kleberson centre and Ronaldo calmly picked out the bottom corner to send the Brazil fans, and all of the neutrals, into raptures.
The German tactics had clearly surprised the Brazilians as the match began, with Rudi Voller coming up with a far more positive game-plan than had been expected.
Indeed, the Germans were the dominant force in the opening exchanges, with Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho barely touching the ball.
And yet with Germany lacking any real attacking force, even limited to occasional touches, Brazil looked the more likely to score.
Kleberson had a busy first half, although the watching Brazil fans must have wished that one of their more gifted players had found the room that the midfielder did in the opening exchanges.
The Brazilian had already woefully crossed into Kahn's safe hands when given all day to pick out a better ball, when he was given an opportunity by a Thorsten Frings mistake that he trickled back to the German keeper. 
Bernd Schneider had taken up a free role behind the front two and his constant prodding and probing caused no end of problems.
It was the Bayer Leverkusen winger that provided early hope for his nation, working his way into space to get in a low cross that Edmilson had to be quick to cut out at the near post.
Schneider then inflicted a wonderful nutmeg on Gilberto Silva but this time found Lucio equal to another low ball in.
Brazil began to claw their way back into proceedings and should have taken the lead when a previously anonymous Ronaldinho provided the perfect through-ball for Ronaldo to canter on to.
The Internazionale man has looked back to his best this World Cup, but on this occasion he seemed ill-decided between passing square and shooting and he trickled the ball well wide of the far post to the relief of Kahn.
Marko Bode may retire completely from football after the tournament, but his lack of control haunted perhaps his last first half ever, and he wasted a glorious opportunity when fed by Oliver Neuville, his control immediately ending what looked a golden chance.
Ronaldinho then showed again how dangerous a creator he is when he cleverly lifted the ball over the defence for Ronaldo to race on to, but he opted to let the ball bounce and only managed to get the merest of touches.
Even this could have been deadly because of the speed that Kahn was advancing, but the brilliant keeper adjusted his position instantly to block.
Kleberson then again found space through the middle, and failed to test Kahn with a shot five yards wide of the target, but got a good deal closer when a lovely Brazilian move culminated in a shooting chance. 
Kleberson caught the ball superbly and with Kahn beaten, watched in despair as his shot rattled the crossbar.
Ronaldo then had a third golden chance, showing his alertness to control a hopeful Roberto Carlos shot, but finding Kahn brilliantly able to save his resultant shot with his legs.
Any thought that Ronaldo's confidence would be lessened by the failure to find the back of the net were dispelled in a thrilling second half.
Germany again came out of the blocks the quicker, spurred on by Voller's half-time words of wisdom.
Jens Jeremies missed a glorious chance when he was picked out unmarked inside the area, but saw his effort blocked by an alert Edmilson, and Oliver Neuville brought a scintillating save from Marcos when his 35-yard swerving free-kick was brilliantly tipped onto the post.
Kahn had looked unbeatable before his mistake, and he made a wonderful stop to deny Rivaldo a headed goal, with Gilberto Silva unable to convert the follow up.
Neuville came within an inch of connecting with a bouncing ball on the hour mark, but six minutes later two unlikely offenders saw mistakes punished in dramatic style.
Hamann has been a model of consistency but he took a touch too many and was relieved of possession by Ronaldo.
Rivaldo, quickly released by his strike partner, hit a shot of great power straight at Kahn, but the official keeper of the tournament failed to hold and Ronaldo was the swiftest to react, firing into the back of the net.
Twelve minutes from time and the match was ended as a contest when a lengthy passing movement saw Kleberson pick out Rivaldo in the centre.
The Barca man, so aware of what was around him, stepped over the ball unlocking the German defence and giving Ronaldo time and space to take a touch and dispatch a low shot perfectly inside Kahn's right-hand post.
There was still time for Marcos to make the point very clearly that Fifa's awarding of the Lev Yashin goalkeeper of the tournament award was premature.
The Brazilian keeper made a wonderful stop to deny substitute Oliver Bierhoff a goal - with the German seeing his classy turn and shot tipped wide.
But Brazil were not to concede, and in truth the best team of the tournament won.
Every minute of the two-year recuperation from serious injury will have been forgotten by Ronaldo, who has once more proved he is the finest striker on the planet, and capable of finally proving it on the biggest stage in football.
Germany: Kahn 7, Linke 5, Ramelow 6, Metzelder 8, Frings 7, Schneider 8*, Jeremies 6 (Asamoah 5), Hamann 6, Bode 4 (Ziege 7), Neuville 7, Klose 5 (Bierhoff 7).
Brazil: Marcos 9, Edmilson 8, Lucio 7, Roque Junior 7, Cafu 7, Kleberson 8, Gilberto 6, Carlos 6, Ronaldinho 8 (Juninho Paulista 6), Rivaldo 7, Ronaldo 9* (Denilson 8).
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