Zinédine Zidane

My role model is Zinedine Zidane. In my opinion, a role model is a person who is reconized by the majority as an example, in her way of thinking and behaving, someone who accomplishes great things with conviction while remaining natural.

Zinedine Zidane is an example for all young children who play football but also for all the others who admire not only his undeniable talent but also his personality, his simplicity and his kindness, so rare in the world of football, a world ruled by money and competition. Through his status as a prominent Frenchman of Maghrebi descent, he promotes racial and religious tolerance. He's one of the "football icons of his generation and is known to be modest, quiet and self-admittedly shy" said Platini, a famous French player of the eighties. "Zizou" is considered by many to be the best footballer in the world still playing, and perhaps one of the most talented players of all time. An elegant dribbler of the ball, Zidane's amazing vision and passing ability as a midfielder has earnerd him the nickname of "genius" and "magician" by the world's sport media.

Zinedine Yazid Zidane was born on June 23, 1972, in Marseille. He began his career in 1988 in Cannes, and went to Bordeaux, then came to Turin and in 2001 moved to Madrid where he's still playing. Zidane was a member of the French football team in the 1998 World Cup which France won. He scored two headed goals in the final against Brazil. Two years later, he led his country to a second major championship, winning Euro 2000. He has been elected three times as FIFA World Player of the Year (1998,2000,2003). Zidane has now declared that he will end his career after the 2006 World Cup in Germany.