Zinedine Zidane

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Zidane started his career at Cannes before establishing himself as one of the best players in the French Ligue 1 at Bordeaux. In 1996, he moved to Italian club Juventus, where he won two Serie A titles and played in consecutive UEFA Champions League finals in 1997 and 1998. He moved to Real Madrid for a world-record fee at the time of €77.5 million in 2001, which remained a record for the next eight years. In Spain, Zidane won several trophies, including a La Liga title and the Champions League. In the 2002 Champions League final, he scored a left-foot volleyed winner that is considered one of the greatest goals in football history. In 2012 and 2017, respectively, Zidane was named in Real Madrid's and Juventus's greatest XI of all time. Capped 108 times by France, Zidane won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, scoring a brace in the final, and was named in the All-Star team. This triumph made him a national hero in France and he received the Legion of Honour in 1998. He won UEFA Euro 2000 and was named Player of the Tournament. He also received the Golden Ball as Player of the Tournament at the 2006 World Cup, despite his infamous sending off in the final against Italy for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the chest. He retired as the fourth-most capped player in French history. In 2004, he was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the world's greatest living players compiled by Pelé, and in the same year was named the best European footballer of the past 50 years in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll. Zidane is one of eleven players to have won the World Cup, the Champions League, and the Ballon d'Or. He was the ambassador for Qatar's successful bid to stage the 2022 World Cup, the first Arab country to host the tournament. After retiring as a player, Zidane began his coaching career at Real Madrid Castilla. He remained in the position for two years, before managing the first team in 2016. In his initial three seasons, Zidane became the first and only coach to win the Champions League three consecutive times. He also won the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup twice each, as well as a La Liga title and a Supercopa de España. This success led to Zidane being named Best FIFA Men's Coach in 2017. He resigned in 2018, but returned to the club in 2019, and won another La Liga title and a Supercopa de España, before leaving again in 2021. In 2026, he returned to coaching, succeeding D

In Their Own Story

The crowd at Stade Louis II watches as Balogun, just back from injury, scores on his first start in a 3–1 win over Saint-Étienne on May 3, 2025. But the real magic comes later. On November 4, 2025, he scores his first Champions League goal, securing a 1–0 away win over Bodø/Glimt. Then, on February 17 in the Champions League, Balogun scores a first-half brace against Paris Saint-Germain, though Monaco would ultimately lose 2–3. One month later on March 6, he records another goal and assist against PSG, with Monaco winning 3–1 in the league matchup. Dating back to February 21, he scores in eight consecutive league games, tying the 2025–26 top five European league season record goalscoring streak shared only by Kylian Mbappé at Real Madrid.

Reader's Guide

Zidane was born on 23 June 1972 in La Castellane, a neighbourhood in the 16th arrondissement of Marseille, in Southern France. He is the youngest of five siblings born to Algerian parents Smaïl and Malika. His father worked as a warehouseman and security guard at a department store, often on the night shift, while his mother was a housewife. Zidane credits his strict upbringing and his father as the 'guiding light' in his career. He had his earliest introduction to football at age five, playing on the Place Tartane. At age ten, he got his first player's licence after joining US Saint-Henri. After a year and a half, he joined SO Septèmes-les-Vallons, staying until age 14. He was then selected for a training camp at CREPS in Aix-en-Provence, where he was spotted by AS Cannes scout Jean Varraud. As a 14-year-old watching the 1986 World Cup, the performance of Diego Maradona left an indelible mark on him. Zidane made his professional debut with Cannes on 18 May 1989 against Nantes. He scored his first goal for the club on 10 February 1991 also against Nantes. In his first full season with Cannes, the club secured its first ever European football berth by qualifying for the UEFA Cup. Zidane was transferred to Bordeaux in the 1992–93 season, winning the 1995 Intertoto Cup and finishing runner-up in the 1995–96 UEFA Cup. In 1996, he received the award for Ligue 1 Player of the Year. He then moved to Juventus, winning the 1996–97 Serie A title and the 1996 Intercontinental Cup, and was named Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year.

Did You Know?

• Zidane was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998, 2000 and 2003.
• He won the 1998 Ballon d'Or.
• Zidane scored a left-foot volleyed winner in the 2002 Champions League final, considered one of the greatest goals in football history.
• He scored a brace in the 1998 World Cup final.
• Zidane is one of eleven players to have won the World Cup, the Champions League, and the Ballon d'Or.