Two-goal hero Ronaldo is keeping his focus firmly on helping Brazil retain the World Cup despite levelling Gerd Muller's all-time scoring record in last night's 4-1 win over Japan.

The Real Madrid striker scored Brazil's first and fourth goals after the Japanese had taken a surprise lead through Keiji Tamada in the 34th minute for the Zico-coached team.

But a header from Ronaldo on the stroke of half-time followed by second-half goals from Juninho Pernambucano and Gilberto before the former Barcelona and Inter Milan man's second nine minutes from time saw Brazil finish on top of Group F with a 100 per cent record.

Brazil's fourth goal also saw Ronaldo equal Muller's mark of 14 goals in World Cup finals competition and he will have the chance to beat the record when the champions face Ghana in the second round.

"Goals do give you confidence and it's with goals that you win games," said the 29-year-old. "The record I achieved was great but we are going to keep working hard to achieve the main objective.

"We are going to study our opponents and rest so that we arrive in top form in the next game.

"I'm very happy. After playing the first two games without scoring, to score twice against Japan is great. They are a team that plays well and defends well.

"They complicated matters by scoring first and I had two scoring opportunities but their keeper defended well.

"Then at the end of the first half I headed in a goal which gave us some tranquillity and enabled us to dominate the game. "I'm very happy with my performance and now we have to rest and focus on the last 16."

Ronaldo came into the tournament off the back of a difficult season with Real that was riddled with spells on the sidelines, injuries and public spats with the club's supporters.

Further criticism was thrown his way after failing to shine in victories over both Croatia and Australia earlier in the group stage.

However, despite the problems, the 2002 World Cup's leading scorer is confident he is closing in on top form.

"I have full knowledge of my body, my position and my physical condition," he said. "I arrived here below par. I arrived below the physical condition of the rest of my team-mates.

"After 45 days of training I know I have improved. I have followed a training programme and today I'm much better.

"I still have some things to improve and I hope that in the coming games I will have the same performance as I did last night, and that is to have the luck to score goals and to qualify Brazil for the next stage."  PA