Zinedine Zidane, widely known by his legendary nickname “Zizou,” is a French former professional footballer of Algerian descent who played for world-class clubs such as Juventus and Real Madrid. By the time of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he had worn the French national team jersey 108 times and was selected by FIFA three times as World Footballer of the Year.

Zinedine Zidane was born on June 23, 1972, in Marseille, France. He began his football career at Cannes, where his exceptional talent quickly became evident. After leaving Cannes, he transferred to Bordeaux, and his outstanding performances there drew international attention. In 1996, he moved to Juventus for a transfer fee of 3 million euros.

At Juventus, Zinedine Zidane elevated his game to the highest level and successfully carried his club form into the national team. He played a decisive role in France’s victory at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In the final, he scored two crucial headers against Brazil national football team, leading France to lift the trophy. That same year, he was awarded the FIFA World Player of the Year. In 2000, he again played a key role in France’s triumph at the UEFA Euro 2000, earning his second World Player of the Year title as a result of these achievements.

In 2001, Zinedine Zidane transferred from Juventus to Real Madrid for a then-record fee of 81 million US dollars. In his very first season with Real Madrid, he won the UEFA Champions League. His iconic left-footed volley against Bayer Leverkusen in the final became legendary and was later featured as an opening sequence on UEFA’s official website.

During the 2002–2003 season, Zinedine Zidane won the La Liga title with Real Madrid. That same year, he was named FIFA World Footballer of the Year for the third time in his career. Following France’s disappointing performance at the UEFA Euro 2004, he initially retired from international football but later returned, believing that the national team still needed his leadership and experience.

Zinedine Zidane played his final club match for Real Madrid on May 7 against Villarreal. He announced his retirement from club football and confirmed that he would officially end his professional playing career after the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

At the age of 34, during the 2006 World Cup final played in a French national team jersey, Zinedine Zidane became one of the most talked-about figures in football history. After head-butting Italian defender Marco Materazzi, he was shown a red card and sent off, marking one of the most dramatic and controversial moments ever witnessed in a World Cup final.

Source: Biyografiler.com