Written in 2009 by Sara Murphy and Alex Tschumi
Edited and Updated in 2013 by Kavin Tamizhmani, Becca Fisher, Caitlin Moyles, Rosa Toledo, and Elena Kim
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Zinedine Zidane is a figure of mythical proportions in the world of football. Widely considered one of the best players to have ever played the game, he is certainly among the most decorated individuals in the history of the sport. Although he has been retired since 2006, the three-time “FIFA World Player of the Year,” continues to be one of the most recognizable faces in the world. Zidane’s popularity extends far beyond his native country of France, where he was recently voted “the most popular Frenchman of all time.”[1]
In exploring Zidane’s unparalleled fame and success, the 1998 World Cup is arguably the single most important event in Zidane’s career. The conditions surrounding the tournament and the French team’s victory played a defining role in their direct and indirect effect on Zidane’s decisions and actions on and off the field. The multi-dimensional relationship between Zidane and the ’98 World Cup is a unique and defining factor in the direction and growth of Zidane’s image.
The Social and Political Impacts of Zidane’s Image
The Commercialization of Zidane’s Image After 1998
Zidane’s Legacy Since Retirement
How to cite this article: “Zidane and the 1998 World Cup,” Written by Sara Murphy and Alex Tschumi (2009), Edited and Updated by Kavin Tamizhmani, Becca Fisher, Caitlin Moyles, Rosa Toledo, and Elena Kim (2013), Soccer Politics Pages, Soccer Politics Blog, Duke University, http://sites.duke.edu/wcwp (accessed on 10/17/13).
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[1] Hussey, A. “ZZ Top,” April 4, 2004. Observer.
