Zinedine Zidane's 20 Greatest Moments

Image via Complex Original

Date: Summer 2013
Opponent: N/A

While the likelihood of this happening is pretty small, it speaks to the level of respect people have for Zidane that this is even considered a legitimate rumor. When Real Madrid decided to allow Jose Mourinho's contract to expire and let him head back to Chelsea, many speculated that Zidane (who has no managerial experience) might replace him. While a team with Real's resources would likely not go with such an inexperienced person at the helm, they have been noticeably quiet on the subject since it was first brought up. It may not be in the next couple years, but Zidane very likely will end up on the Real bench sometime in the near future.

Date: 4/23/2005
Opponent: Villarreal

As Zidane's playing career was winding down, a documentary crew decided to take a look at the star's career by rigging up 17 different cameras to track Zizou exclusively during a La Liga match. It was a classic Zidane game; he assisted on Ronaldo's 70th minute goal that leveled the score, and then got in the middle of a brawl during stoppage time and was sent off. It was the perfect microcosm of his on-field career, and the multiple cameras allowed for fans to get an up close look at the incredible technical gifts the Frenchman possessed.

Date: 5/7/2006
Opponent: Villarreal

Many playing careers come to an end with a whimper, even for the greats. Anyone remember the Michael Jordan Wizards years? Zidane certainly did not go out that way, instead hammering in a goal on his own tribute day at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and leaving the Real Madrid fans wanting more. It was a fitting end to a spectacular career, as Zidane's final appearance gave fans at least a small something to cheer for in what was an otherwise terribly disappointing season. As it turns out, this goal was but a harbinger of the big things to come for Zidane at that summer's World Cup.

Date: 5/18/1989
Opponent: Nantes

While he didn't score his first goal for another year and a half, Zidane made his professional debut for Cannes in 1989 at the tender age of 17. In hindsight, it's kind of funny that Cannes thought that all that would come of Zidane's six week trial was perhaps finding a solid player to mix in to their developmental program. Six weeks quickly turned into four years, as Zidane lifted the club to their highest ever finish (4th) in the French Ligue 1 and quickly became a star.

Date: 7/5/2006
Opponent: Portugal

While it didn't have the gall of his attempt in the Final, Zidane's game-winning spot kick in the 2006 World Cup Semifinal against Portugal was no less important. It should come as no surprise that despite his advancing age and decline in overall speed, Zizou was still relied upon by his veteran French team in the most critical of moments. His supreme self-confidence made him the ideal midfield maestro during his team's miraculous run to the Final, and like so many of his other attempts he buried this spot kick in the far left corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

Date: 7/9/2001
Opponent: N/A

After winning his second Serie A Player of the Year award the previous year with Juventus, Zidane added a new title to his long list of accomplishment: most expensive footballer of all-time. Real Madrid forked over a staggering amount for the Frenchman, pairing him in the midfield with Luis Figo (whom the club had signed the year before for a then-record €60 million). The two were key figures in the "Los Galacticos" era of Real Madrid from 2000 to 2007, a time that saw the club capture numerous championships.

Date: 1996
Opponent: N/A

Joining France teammates Bixente Lizarazu and Christophe Dugarry in the Bordeaux midfield, Zidane guided his Bordeaux side to a runner-up finish in the 1995-96 UEFA Cup. While the team performed poorly in Ligue 1, Zidane himself was no slouch as he earned the league's Player of the Year honor. Prior to that season, Bordeaux had actually offered Zizou up to Premier League side Newcastle for a paltry £1.2 million, but in their infinite wisdom Newcastle decided that Zidane would not be able to hack it in the EPL. Woops.

Date: 2/24/2007
Opponent: N/A

Just because he was prone to fits of rage on the pitch doesn't mean that Zidane is not a goodhearted fellow. Since retiring he has regularly plied his trade in charity matches all over the world, raising money for numerous different causes as a UN Goodwill Ambassador. This 2007 game in remote Thailand attracted some 10,000 people as Zidane helped raise money for a local children's AIDS charity, and the former France star put on a show as he scored one goal and assisted on the other for his team.

Date: 7/10/2006
Opponent: N/A

Heading into the 2006 World Cup, pundits weren't giving France much of a chance. While they had big names, many of those big names (Zidane included) were getting old and were not quite the effective players they once were. They didn't exactly inspire confidence in the group stage either, needing a 2-0 win against Togo in their final match just to make it into the knockout stages. Once there, though, Zidane guided his team to wins over powerhouses Spain (one goal), Brazil (one assist), and Portugal (one goal) to reach the Final, where he also scored France's lone goal in their penalty kick loss.

Date: 7/9/2006
Opponent: Italy

It's probably less than ideal to get thrown out of a World Cup Final, especially when the game is tied, you're the team's best player, and you are about to be needed in a penalty kick shootout to determine the winner. However, we have to applaud Zidane's defending of his family's honor; when Marco Materazzi insulted Zidane's sister, Zizou reacted in a way that would make any future boyfriend of hers think twice before crossing the French legend. While he was sent off and France subsequently lost, we have to admire Zidane's sticking to his guns. In a 2010 interview, he told El Paid that he "rather die than apologize."

Date: 2004
Opponent: N/A

Sometimes in sports, the world's greatest players can go underappreciated by fans. Zidane clearly did not have that problem, as they selected him as the greatest European player of the last 50 years over the likes of Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff in UEFA's "Golden Jubilee Poll." While Zizou undoubtedly benefited from still being an active player compared with many of those he was up against, it speaks to his greatness that he stood above many of the game's immortals in the eyes of fans.

Date: 1998, 2000, 2003
Opponent: N/A

While the award has only been around since 1991, Zidane is still impressively tied with his former teammate Ronaldo for the most wins all time (three). Zidane's 1998 included a Champions League Final appearance as well as World Cup and Serie A championships. In 2000, he guided his France team to the Euro 2000 title and was named player of the tournament. In 2003, his Real Madrid squad won La Liga due in part to Zidane's nine goals and general midfield mastery.

Date: 1998
Opponent: N/A

It really wasn't much of a shock that, after a year in which he was Man of the Match in the World Cup Final and led his Juventus squad to their second consecutive Champions League Final, Zidane was named the best player in Europe. He also scored seven goals in his 32 Serie A matches, as he helped lead his team to their second consecutive league title. While Juventus would lose in the Champions League Final to Real Madrid and thus prevent Zidane from winning trophies in all three major competitions, it was still a pretty damn good year.

Date: 1/5/2002
Opponent: Deportivo La Coruna

Poor Hector. The Deportivo defender did pretty much everything right in the buildup to his one-on-one encounter inside the 18 with Zidane, squaring up the French maestro and keeping the play in front of him. Unfortunately, what Hector neglected to realize was that this was not an ordinary player he was dealing with. By our count, Zidane skins him three times in the span of about two seconds. The first two times with brilliant footwork to throw him off balance. Then the final time with a left-footed rip that Hector could only watch ripple the back of the net in what became a 3-1 Real romp.

Date: 10/25/2003
Opponent: Racing Santander

One of Zidane's best individual skills on the field was his ability to take measure of a ball coming at him and make the appropriate decision to get the most out of the play. This wonderstrike against Racing Santander is Exhibit A. As Ronaldo's ball comes towards him, Zizou measures his footsteps accordingly to give him the appropriate run-up and striking surface as he prepares to absolutely rip a volley from 23 yards out. The result is an absolutely spectacular goal that leveled the score at one and ultimately set the tone for Real Madrid's 3-1 win.

Date: 6/13/2004
Opponent: England

While it was only a group stage game, this clash of global footballing powers was one of the most hyped games of the entire tournament. England and France were both favorites that had ended up in the same group, and this game featured some of the biggest names in world football. It looked like England was going to take the victory on the heels of a 38th minute strike from Frank Lampard, but in injury time Zizou unleashed a bit of what made him a living legend. His absolute missile of a free kick brought the game level, and when a penalty was given a minute later he buried the kick to give France the three points.

Date: 6/28/2000
Opponent: Portugal

The defending champions from the 1998 World Cup were marked men in Euro 2000, and they entered their semifinal matchup with Portugal forced to reshuffle their lineup after an injury to Emmanuel Petit. After falling behind at halftime, Theirry Henry equalized just six minutes into the second half, and for over an hour afterwards neither team could find the back of the net. With mere minutes to go until penalty kicks, though, France's Sylvain Wiltord fired a shot that the referee judged to have been handled by Portugal defender Abel Xavier. Calm as you like, Zidane stepped to the spot and buried the kick into the top left corner to send his team to the Finals.

Date: 5/15/2002
Opponent: Bayer Leverkusen

This goal, from pretty much every conceivable angle, is perfection. With the game tied 1-1 just before halftime, Zidane set up atop the 18, just minding his own business with no defenders bothering to lock him down. Big mistake. Roberto Carlos' frantic cross looped toward the Frenchman, who timed his volley absolutely exquisitely to strike the ball with tremendous pace. He spun his shot into the top corner, giving Real Madrid the deciding goal in their 2-1 Champions League Final victory.

Date: 7/9/2006
Opponent: Italy

Zidane was certainly always confident on the field, but the level of gumption required to take a penalty kick like this one in the World Cup Final is beyond our comprehension. Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon—one of the world's best—could hardly believe it either as Zizou lofted a dainty little chipped penalty off the underside of the crossbar and across the line to give France an early 1-0 lead. The casual, carefree nature of the attempt was like something seen on the training ground, but it was indeed that looseness on the field that made Zidane one of the greatest big game players of all time.

Date: 7/12/1998
Opponent: Brazil

As the host nation and having conceded just two goals all tournament, France were certainly in a good position to knock off defending champion Brazil in the 1998 World Cup Finals. It was on two corner kicks in that game that Zidane become famous in even the most remote corners of the earth, as he buried two headers in the first half to lift his France squad to a 3-0 win. The victory capped a tremendous tournament for Zizou, who was named Man of the Match for the Final.