查看原文
5 Zinedine Zidane (France)
World Cups 1998, 2002, 2006
Appearances 12
Goals 5
A protagonist of two finals, finishing one a national hero and the other in rather a disgrace, one of the best European players of all time, Zidane’s first World Cup was a personal triumph in which he scored two goals against Brazil in the final, prompting the giant projection of his image on the Arc de Triomphe. Injury precluded him from contributing much to the defending champions’ cause as they went out with a whimper four years later in Japan and South Korea. Zidane was cajoled out of international retirement before Germany 2006 and went on to be awarded the Golden Ball before the final, which France lost on penalties. Zidane was again a central figure, scoring a first-half penalty before being sensationally sent off in extra time for butting Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the chest.