The former Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid and France midfielder is widely
regarded as one of the greatest footballers to have ever lived.
Real Madrid greats Ronaldo
and Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane is one of the greatest footballers of
all-time. The silky midfielder had an understated class about him. He did not
need to pull out rainbow flicks or other such complex skills to beat his
opponent - although he did have a soft spot for the Marseille turn - but would
instead glide past opposition players almost as though they weren't there.
The
Frenchman was a player for the big occasions. Whether it be the 1998 World Cup
final or the 2002 Champions League final, of which Zidane scored in and was
named Man of the Match in both, he was virtually unplayable when on song.
Although he won the Ballon d'Or only once, he was named as the best European
footballer of the last 50 years in 2004, ahead of the likes of Franz
Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff.
Zidane
began his career with Cannes, before heading to Bordeaux, then Juventus, and
finally Real Madrid. His time at those four clubs, twinned with his 12 years
with the French national team, with whom he won both the World Cup and the
European Championship's, mean Zizou played with some incredible players. Here's
a look at XI of the best:
Iker
Casillas
Zidane missed out on
playing with Gianluigi Buffon at Juventus, the Italian arriving in Turin the
same summer that Zizou departed for the Bernabeu. As such, it was a toss up
between Iker Casillas and Edwin van der Sar for the number one spot (and Fabien
Barthez if we're feeling generous). Ultimately, Casillas is the worthy winner
of that battle. He was one of the best goalkeepers in world during the five
years the two players spent together with Los Blancos.
Lilian
Thuram
Gianluca
Zambrotta is an excellent candidate at right-back, but Lilian Thuram is one of
the greatest right-backs of all-time, and cannot be left out. The most capped
Frenchman ever, Thuram won 142 caps for Les Bleus, but missed out on playing
together at Juventus, with Thuram also arriving in 2001. Together, Zidane and
Thuram won both the European Championships and the World Cup with France,
reaching a second World Cup final in 2006.
Marcel
Desailly
Zidane's
second France teammate in this XI, Marcel Desailly's international career
spanned very similar dates to Zidane's. Desailly won 116 caps for Les Bleus,
playing for Nantes, Marseille, AC Milan and Chelsea at club level. A dominant
central defender also capable of playing in defensive midfield, Desailly was
nicknamed 'the Rock' for obvious reasons.
Fernando
Hierro
Both of the
centre-backs in this XI were capable of playing in defensive midfield, with
Hierro having more attacking tendencies than most. In fact, the Spaniard scored
a total of 134 goals in 716 games during his career, a tally some forwards
would be envious of. Hierro spent 14 years at Los Blancos, winning five La Liga
titles and three Champions League's, as well as racking up 89 caps for Spain.
Roberto
Carlos
Bixente
Lizarazu may consider himself a touch unfortunate to miss out here, but Roberto
Carlos was a force of nature at times for Real Madrid. A full-back better known
for his bursts forward and ferocious left foot than his defensive work, Carlos
spent more than a decade at the Bernabeu, and won 125 caps for Brazil. He came
second only to Ronaldo in voting for the 2002 Ballon d'Or.
Edgar
Davids
Here
comes some debate... Zinedine Zidane played with a handful of quality defensive
midfielders and midfield enforcers in his career, and just who was the best is
up for debate. Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit and Claude Makelele are all
worthy candidates, but Edgar Davids just gets the nod for us. The most complete
of the quartet, Davids had an incredible engine, and as well as being a
midfield destructor, he could carry the ball forward and pass it with purpose
and drive. The two spent five years playing together in midfield at Juventus.
Luis
Figo
Sorry David Beckham,
but there could only be one man on the right of midfield in this XI, and that
is Luis Figo. Probably the best player in the world in 2000 when he made his
hugely controversial move from Barcelona to Real Madrid, Figo went on to enjoy
much success at the Bernabeu. He won the Ballon d'Or in 2000 and was named as
FIFA's Player of the Year in 2001.
Thierry
Henry
You could
argue that Thierry Henry ought to be up front in this team, but the Frenchman
loved to venture out onto the left wing and played there alongside Zidane at
Juventus. The talisman of Arsenal's Invincibles, Henry was quick, clever,
technically gifted and ruthless in front of goal. He won two major
international honours with France alongside Zidane, and the two spent a season
together at Juve.
Alessandro
Del Piero
The final former
Juventus teammate of Zidane's in this XI is Alessandro Del Piero. You could
make a case for Eric Cantona, but the Manchester United legend only played
alongside Zidane for France, where he never featured in a major tournament. Del
Piero spent almost two decades at Juventus, where he is hailed as a god, having
won six Serie A titles (two later revoked) and one Champions League. An
intelligent and creative player, Del Piero is in his best position just behind
the forwards in this XI.
Raul
Playing
in front of Del Piero but still just off the main striker is Raul. A Real
Madrid legend, Raul and Del Piero had similar careers. Considered both a Spain
and Real Madrid great, Raul scored 323 goals in 741 games for Los Blancos and
44 goals from 102 caps for Spain. Zidane and Raul spent five years together in
the Spanish capital.
Ronaldo
Zidane
played alongside some great out-and-out centre-forwards in his time, from
Christian Vieri to Michael Owen, but Ronaldo is undoubtedly the pick of the
bunch. Injuries prevented him from being considered on a level footing with
Pele or Maradona, but in terms of ability, he is almost without peer. Dazzling
on the ball and devastating in front of goal, Ronaldo was frighteningly good at
his best, and spent four years alongside Zizou in Madrid.
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