Hall Of Fame "Zinedine Zidane": World-Class Midfield Legend of the French National Team, recognized as one of the greatest midfielders worldwide.
When discussing players with elegant playing styles and genius-level vision for the French national team, the first name that comes to mind is "Zinedine Zidane." He stood out as a key player, leading France to victory in the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship.
Zidane made his national team debut in a friendly match against the Czech Republic in 1994. At that time, France was trailing 0-2, but after he entered the game, he scored two goals, helping France equalize and finish the match 2-2. His impressive debut quickly brought him into the spotlight.
The 1998 World Cup was the tournament that truly turned Zinedine Zidane into a global superstar after leading France to their first-ever World Cup title on home soil. Although he missed two matches due to a red card suspension against Saudi Arabia, upon his return in the knockout stages, he became the team's core. He exploded in form during the final against Brazil by scoring two headers, leading France to a 3-0 victory at Stade de France. He earned Man of the Match honors and was named to the World Cup All-Star team that year. This cemented his legacy as a World Cup legend and led to him winning the FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d'Or in 1998.
Two years later, at the 2000 European Championship, Zidane reached new heights by leading France to continental glory. He scored two crucial goals in the knockout rounds, including a beautiful free kick against Spain and a golden goal in the semi-final against Portugal. France ultimately defeated Italy 2-1 in the final to win Euro 2000, becoming the first team since West Germany to hold both the World Cup and European Championship titles simultaneously. Zidane was named to the tournament's best XI and awarded Player of the Tournament. His outstanding performance also earned him his second FIFA World Player of the Year award and a second-place finish in the 2000 Ballon d'Or voting behind Portugal's Luís Figo.
Zidane's last appearance for the national team was at the 2006 World Cup. After initially retiring following Euro 2004, he returned to help France once more. Although France had a modest start in the group stage with 5 points from 9, it was enough to advance. In the knockout rounds, France's form improved steadily, as did Zidane's, helping the team defeat Spain in the Round of 16, then favorites Brazil and Portugal, before reaching the final against Italy.
In the 2006 World Cup final, Zidane played his last match for France as the team's key player. He scored a Panenka-style penalty to give France a 1-0 lead over Italy, before Marco Materazzi quickly equalized, and the match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.
A memorable moment of that World Cup occurred in extra time at the 110th minute, when Zidane and Materazzi exchanged words, leading Zidane to headbutt Materazzi, knocking him down. Zidane was shown a red card and sent off, ending his World Cup campaign in shocking fashion. This iconic moment is still widely discussed today. Ultimately, Italy won the match on penalties, claiming the World Cup, while France missed the chance for a second title.
Zinedine Zidane is one of France's legendary midfielders, beginning his career with AS Cannes before making his name at Bordeaux and then rising to prominence in Europe with Juventus. There, he helped win the Serie A title and developed into the world's top playmaker. He then transferred to Real Madrid for a world-record fee at the time, leaving a legacy including a stunning volley in the 2002 UEFA Champions League final. He retired after the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Throughout his international career, he earned 108 caps and scored 31 goals, playing a central role in France's 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 triumphs, and leading them to the 2006 World Cup final. His career ended with both greatness and drama, and he is regarded as one of the most influential midfielders in World Cup history.