But a less celebrated member of the World Cup holders' side played a key role in all four strikes in the 4-1 victory - the stocky right-back Cicinho, who was only playing because veteran Cafu decided to miss this tournament.

Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said repeatedly that he was using this tournament 12 months ahead of the World Cup to test out a new offensive scheme involving the four stars.

It had stuttered in the 1-0 defeat to Mexico and Adriano single-handedly rescued his teammates with two goals in the 3-2 victory over Germany in the semi-final.

In the final however Brazil imposed their brand of irresistible attacking play against their arch rivals from South America who had beaten them 3-1 in a World Cup qualifier just days before coming to Germany.

As a storm rumbled overhead, Argentina were hit with two thunder claps in just over a quarter of an hour.

Adriano took a pass from Cicinho, danced over Gabriel Heinze's tackle and lashed a left-foot shot past Argentinian goalkeeper German Lux for his fourth goal of the tournament.

Five minutes later, Cicinho was involved in the buildup again, finding Robinho who slotted the ball to Kaka.

With ridiculous ease, the AC Milan man lifted the ball into the Argentinian net.

Two minutes into the second half, an unmarked Ronaldinho scored his first goal of this Confederations Cup - his 27th in 60 internationals - with an easy side-footed volley from a perfect cross supplied by that man Cicinho who was stretching Argentina's defence on the right wing.

Only a superb stop from Lux prevented Kaka scoring his second goal of the night after a rapid counter-attack led by Ronaldinho, who was to be named man of the match.

Then the bullish Adriano got into perfect position to head in an inch-perfect cross from Cicinho - with Adriano's marker the aggressive but unreliable Fabricio Coloccini nowhere and Heinze having to run 30 metres from rightback to try and challenge him - to make the Inter Milan player the tournament's leading scorer with five goals.

It pulled him clear of the four goals scored by Argentina's Luciano Figueroa, Australia's John Aloisi and Michael Ballack of Germany.

Brazil kept probing and Ronaldinho had the crowd gasping with a chipped pass to Adriano, but he drove into the side-netting.

Ronaldinho and Adriano are already superstars in Europe, while Robinho is expected to join Real Madrid soon from Santos.

And after this performance, Cicinho's club Sao Paulo can expect the phone to be ringing with lucrative offers.