GOAL takes a closer look at the French star's path to becoming arguably the greatest midfielder of all time
Zinedine Zidane was grace personified. Technically, he was a master of the ball, a manipulator of time and space unlike any we saw before or since. And physically? He was imposing, strong, quick. When he got that ball, there was little anyone could do to get it from him.
But, before he was France's icon, he was the son of Algerian immigrants in Marseille. Before he was arguably the most skillful player we've ever seen kick a ball, he was a rising star at Cannes in need of guidance on and off the field. Before he was an ICON, he was a Future Star, and he lived up to every bit of potential he had in him.
By the time it was all over, Zidane stepped away from the game as one of the most impactful technicians the footballing world has ever seen. If he wasn't your favorite player, he was definitely your favorite player's favorite player. The generation that grew up watching him run games saw him as football personified, the perfect combination of everything that makes someone excel at this game.
To coincide with the release of his Future Stars Icon card on EA Sports FC24 on PlayStation 5, GOAL takes a look back at Zidane's journey and how he went from Future Star to ICON…
GettyWhere it all began
Born in Marseille on June 23, 1972, Zidane's childhood was spent tiptoeing the line between cultures. The son of Algerian immigrants, Zidane simply wanted to belong as a child, and football helped provide him with the outlet he needed.
Originally brought in by Cannes for a six-week trial, Zidane ultimately remained with the club for four years, rising all the way from the youth academy to the first team. Zidane was rough when he arrived at the club, particularly off the field where his temperament threatened to hold him back. On the pitch, though, he was a force, showing early signs of the technique and skill that would take him to the very top.
After two full seasons with the first team at Cannes, Bordeaux swooped in 1992-93, giving Zidane a step up the ranks in France. With Bordeaux, Zidane won the 1995 Intertoto Cup after losing to Bayern Munich in the final of the 1995-96 UEFA Cup. By 1996, clubs from outside France had taken notice, with Newcastle and Blackburn Rovers among those pursuing him.
After receiving the 1996 Ligue 1 Player of the Year award, though, Zidane joined the prior season's Champions League winners, Juventus.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe big break
It didn't take long for Zidane to go from star to superstar with Juventus, as he claimed Serie A's Foreign Footballer of the Year after winning the league in his first season.
Alongside Alessandro Del Piero, Zidane helped Juve remain a juggernaut in those first two seasons, winning the league twice while making it to two consecutive Champions League finals. It was at Juventus that Zidane truly blossomed. He won two FIFA World Player of the Year awards during his time at the club as well as a Ballon d'Or, asserting himself as one of the most dominant players of his era.
By 2001, Real Madrid came calling, looking to make Zidane a Galactico by offering Juventus a world-record fee. He went onto further his reputation in Madrid, winning La Liga in 2002-03 and the Champions League in 2001-02, famously scoring a fantastic goal in that final.
By the time he arrived in Spain, though, Zidane had already solidified his legacy with his exploits on the international stage.
GettyBecoming an ICON
It's hard to explain the weight that France was playing with heading into the 1998 World Cup. They were playing on home soil, after all. That, of course, comes with benefits: familiarity, comfort, and support. It also comes with an extraordinary amount of pressure to perform.
With Zidane leading the charge, France did exactly that. Starring in a squad that featured icons like Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Laurent Blanc, Marcel Desailly and Emmanuel Petit, Zidane and France blasted through the group stage, with Zidane setting up two of France's goals. The midfield maestro was sent off, though, against Saudi Arabia in the group stage, but France took care of business without him in the Round of 16 against Paraguay. He returned against Italy, scoring a penalty kick in the shootout win, before a 2-1 win over Croatia in the semifinal.
To that point, Zidane had yet to score, but it turned out that he was simply saving his goal for the right moment. In the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil at the Stade de France, Zidane scored twice, heading home a pair of corner kicks to lead the way in a 3-0 win.
Thanks to Zidane's heroics, France lifted the country's first World Cup, with the midfield star earning Man of the Match honors for his performance in the final.
Getty ImagesBiggest strengths
With Zidane, you have to start with the magic he could create on the ball. Touch, dribbling, flair, creativity, body control… Zidane mastered it all, making him one of the most elegant players to ever play. He did everything to near perfection, from the basics to the complex skills showcased by only the trickiest of players. Zidane was a true blend: a strong, lanky midfielder, but one that also had the flair of any Brazilian icon.
Capable of striking the ball with both feet, Zidane could also play as a second striker when called upon. His versatility is what made him so dangerous as, depending on the game or system, he could be used as a forward, a No.10 or a No.8. Defensively, he was no slouch, either, with Zidane proving throughout his career that he was willing to do the dirty work to help the team.
By the time his career ended, Zidane had earned the respect and admiration of some of the game's all-time greats. Ronaldinho, Xavi, Pele, Beckham… all have hailed Zidane as perhaps the greatest they had ever seen play the game.