Everyone remembers how it ended for Zinedine Zidane at the 2006 World Cup, but it’s much, much more important to remember him producing one of the great individual performances in the quarter-final against Brazil.
Zidane hadn’t actually been in particularly good form for Real Madrid in the two seasons leading up to the tournament, and there were even calls for him to be left out of France’s starting XI after the group stage, in which he missed Les Bleus’ only win – coming against Togo in the final match – due to suspension.
But after scoring in the second-round victory over Spain, the then-34-year-old rolled back the years against Brazil in what was the first meeting between the two sides at a World Cup since the midfielder’s two headers had fired France to glory in the 1998 final.
“Zinedine Zidane was the first French player to leave the pitch, but the majesty of his performance will remain seared on the memories of those present,” wrote Dominic Fifield in The Guardian.
The player himself later told FIFA.com: “There was magic in the air that day out on the pitch.”
Let’s look back at a truly sensational performance…
The introduction
Given we’re about to witness an iconic performance, it’s only fitting that it starts with an iconic opening scene. Zidane and Ronaldo, two of the greatest gunslingers, facing off for one final duel, basking in the glow of the twilight of their careers.
Are they nervous? Sad? Overawed? Emotional? No. They’re excited, like giddy schoolchildren ready for mischief.
Zidane – usually all intense, dead-eyed stare – unable to prevent himself pulling a stupid face. Then there’s Ronaldo and his glorious, gap-toothed grin. Both ready to battle, both determined to enjoy their last waltz.
This might actually be the greatest moment in the history of football.
The warning
Thirty-five seconds. Thirty-five seconds is all it takes for Zizou to start toying with the Brazilian midfield.
One turn leaves Ze Roberto and Kaka clutching at thin air before he glides past Gilberto Silva. The final pass is overhit but it’s only taken 35 seconds for Zidane to beat Brazil’s entire midfield.
They’re going to need to produce something special if they’re to match his level of greatness today.
The simple things
“Football is both complicated and simple at the same time,” Marcel Desailly wrote in a column for The Guardian during the tournament – and his former team-mate encapsulates that notion…
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