Last gasp penalty sees off Turks
However, despite the deserved victory for Brazil, Turkey finished the match with only nine men after Hakan Unsal and Alpay were shown red cards by Korean referee Kim Young-Joo.
Ronaldo equalised for the samba stars five minutes into the second half, before Young-Joo awarded Brazil a penalty after Alpay was adjudged to have brought down Luizao in the box.
Turkey had looked set to earn an unlikely hard-earned point, thanks largely to the superb form of Rustu Recber in goal, before Young-Joo's controversial late decision, gifted Rivaldo the chance to win the contest.
Despite anticipation of flair and creativity from the Brazilians, the match began very slowly with Turkey happy to play a containing game early doors.
The early opportunities in the match fell to the Samba Boys. Rivaldo was fouled near the right corner flag, however the Barca man played in a poor ball that was easily cleared.
Ronaldo then tried his luck at Rustu Recber in Turkey's goal, however the Internazionale man fired high and wide from 25 yards after a lovely one-two with Rivaldo.
Rustu was almost left red faced after coming out of his area and playing a poor clearance, but Ronaldinho's audacious long-range effort at an open goal drifted over from 35 yards out.
Brazil's danger man so far, Juninho, was running the show and set up Ronaldo with another chance, however the 25-year-old's shot was well blocked in the area.
Turkey's reward for soaking up pressure was almost a goal against the run of play. However, Tugay's deflected shot by Silva, from a poorly played free-kick, glanced off the top of Marcos's cross-bar.
Fatih became the first man in referee Young-Joo's book, for demanding the Korean show a yellow card to Roberto Carlos after the full-back tripped over the ball in the penalty box.
Unsal followed Fatih in Young-Joo's book after he brought down the lively Ronaldinho on 24 minutes.
Juninho almost broke the dead-lock just before the half hour mark, however the former Middlesbrough man fired just wide after good hold-up play by Ronaldo on the edge of the area.
Just when it looked like Brazil had run out of ideas they should have taken the lead. Ronaldo drifted out wide to the left, before playing a superb cross for the unmarked Rivaldo in the box. However, the Barca man saw his goal-bound header superbly saved by Rustu's trailing right hand.
Ronaldinho was next to test the in-form Turkish keeper. The right-winger worked his way into the box, but saw his right-footed shot, with only the keeper to beat, well saved.
Just when it looked like Turkey were going to hold on, and go into the break on level terms, they took the lead two minutes into injury-time.
Bayer Leverkusen's Basturk played in a superb chip to Sas, who was unmarked at the far post, for the Galatasaray forward to volley home a surprise lead for the Turks.
The second half looked in complete contrast to the first 45 minutes. Brazil, clearly came out from the break after an ear-full by coach Luis Felipe Scolari.
Five minutes after the break Ronaldo should have levelled matters for the Samba Boys. Rivaldo broke into the box and tried to beat the keeper, however Ronaldo picked up the ball, but saw his effort excellently blocked with the goal at his mercy.
Only moments later, the South Americans were deservedly level. Rivaldo played a superb left-footed cross from the left, for Ronaldo to slide in the equaliser at the far post.
Ronaldo, clearly buoyed by his goal, was now displaying some of the form he showed as a youngster. He ghosted past a few defenders, like they were not there, only for Rustu to make a save from his curling right-foot effort.
Unsal then tested Marcos with a free-kick from 35 yards out, but the keeper made a fine save before gathering the rebound, after Juninho fouled Sas outside the penalty area.
Lucio was next to squander a chance for the Samba Boys on the hour mark. The Leverkusen defender stabbed the ball forward inside the box from a Rivaldo corner, but Rustu again made the save.
Moments later, Rivaldo thought he had headed Brazil into the lead, however the referee's assistant adjudged the Barca man to be offside from Roque Junior's knock-down from a corner.
Scolari then brought on Denilson, formerly the world's most expensive player, for Ronaldinho, who disappointed after a bright start to the match.
After 74 minutes Ronaldo, who looked back to his very best since a disappointing World Cup final appearance in 1998, was withdrawn by Scolari and replaced by Luizao.
Brazil continued to look the likely team to win the match, with Rivaldo next in line to test Rustu. The left-footed wizard turned quickly, however his rising shot failed to trouble the Turkish keeper.
Just when it looked like Turkey had done enough to hold on for a draw came a massive moment of contoversy.
Luizao was clean through on goal, however Alpay brought down the striker seemingly outside the box.
However, the Korean ref adjudged the foul to take place into the box and awarded the penalty. Rivaldo stepped up calmly and drilled the spot-kick into the top right corner, leaving Rustu with no chance of making a save.
Just when it looked like it could not get any worse for the Turks they found themselves down to nine-men following a bit of frustration by Unsal.
The Blackburn Rovers full back kicked the ball directly at Rivaldo, hitting the Barca man on the leg, and was shown a second yellow card, however the 30-year-old fell over holding his face.
Many will now be looking to Brazil to progress into the later stages of the tournament following a strong performance.
Player Ratings:
Brazil: Marcos 7; Cafu 6, Lucio 6, Roque Junior 7; Edmilson 7, Roberto Carlos 7, Gilberto Silva 7, Ronaldo *9 (Luizao 7, 74); Rivaldo 8, Ronaldinho 6 (Denilson 7, 67), Juninho 7 Paulista (Vampeta 6, 72).
Turkey: Rustu Recber *9; Bulent Korkmaz 6 (Llhan Mansiz 6, 66), Fatih Akyel 6, Alpay Ozalan 7, Tugay Kerimoglu 7, Hakan Sukur 5, Yildiray Basturk 7 (Umit Davala 6, 66), Hasan Sas 8, Umit Ozat 7, Hakan Unsal 6, Emre Belozoglu 6.
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