The One Man Zinedine Zidane Could Not Conquer

(Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

He let his feet do the talking, and despite the global reverence he commanded, he remained shy to the point of elusiveness and soft-spoken to the point of aloofness. But even his imperfections seemed to work for him and not against him: his perceived detachment rendering him all the more enigmatic and all the more intriguing.

Defining Moments

Zidane’s first defining moment came at the tender age of 13 when he was discovered by a scout while playing outside his apartment complex.

Since that moment, he would commit himself to a lifetime of professional training, constantly honing his unique talents to the next level, never to stop until his last game.

The culmination of his efforts brought about his second defining moment yet another 13 years later when at the age of 26, he inspired France to the country’s first ever World Cup.

Zidane scored twice in the final against fancied Brazil, setting off the nation’s largest public celebration since France was liberated from the Nazis in 1944.

The small boy from the rough Marseilles streets had lived to see a giant laser image of his face projected unto the Arc De Triumph—the symbol of French glory in the very heart of Paris.

Millions of euphoric fans packed the streets chanting “Zidane for President.”

Two years later, Zidane did it again, leading France to European Championships glory, a campaign that saw him produce a string of spellbinding performances.

And he was yet again the hero when he scored an absolute stunner during the final of the European club Champions league—the most coveted club competition in Europe. He had requested a move to Real Madrid with the stated mission of winning this competition, and just like in a fairy-tale, it was that very stunner of a goal that won it all in his first season with his new club.

With Zidane, it was never just about winning, but winning in style. For his fluid, graceful technique, he was often compared to a ballerina. He was said to be dancing on ice.

The Final Chapter Unfolds

Having done it all, Zidane decided to retire from the national team in 2004. But fate had it that there would yet be one more remarkable chapter to be played out in his career.

In his absence, the French national team was suffering miserably.

And so just like a Hollywood plot, the champ was coaxed out of retirement for the 2006 World Cup finals in order to come save the day.

Like a superhero to the rescue, he donned his blue costume and stepped back onto the pitch to take on the insurmountable task that lay before him.

Though still brisk with flashes of brilliance, few expected a miracle from the aging Zidane. After all, this was never supposed to be the French star’s World Cup, he had already savored his quota of glory.

This was supposed to be a World Cup for another player of another generation, a World Cup that would see the much talked-about up-and-comers finally claim their stake on the ultimate stage of dreams.

This was supposed to be the Brazilian Ronaldinho’s time to shine, or maybe the Argentinian Messi’s; perhaps the English Rooney’s, or the Portugese Cristiano Ronaldo’s.

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