Paul Pogba could not hide his excitement after meeting his football idol, Zinedine Zidane. The French midfielder's emotional reaction quickly went viral as the former France and Real Madrid icon signed a jersey for him. Marcelo, Kaka and Rodrygo were also present, sharing a memorable moment with one of football's most revered figures.
Rayan Cherki has been earning plenty of plaudits at Manchester City, with Frank Leboeuf telling GOAL why the mercurial playmaker deserves to be compared with Zinedine Zidane - the GOAT of French football. That is some billing, but two magical midfielders are considered to share a number of traits - including on-field skill sets and off-pitch ticket-selling qualities.
Rayan Cherki is being backed to justify comparisons with Zinedine Zidane, as Louis Saha tells GOAL why the enigmatic Manchester City playmaker can become even better now that Pep Guardiola has left the Etihad Stadium. The most demanding of coaches helped to keep a tight leash on Cherki, but the World Cup-bound midfielder should benefit from a little more leeway when working under a new manager in the Premier League.
The World Cup has had no shortage of iconic moments across nearly 100 years of history. Every four years, billions of fans congregate to watch a tournament that has provided more drama, heartbreak and joy than any other event in sporting history. Football's grandest stage, the World Cup has always offered a platform for legends to be born, but it has also seen reputations destroyed and the downfall of so many famous faces.
Christophe Dugarry, a member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning squad, sees Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise's style as a reminder of Zinedine Zidane.
Algeria have been hit with a significant injury scare ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with goalkeeper Luca Zidane emerging as a major doubt for the tournament. The Granada shot-stopper, son of France legend Zinedine Zidane, suffered a serious facial injury during a Spanish second-division clash against Almeria on Sunday.
Italy icon Gianluigi Buffon has opened up on the most infamous moment in World Cup history, jokingly claiming responsibility for Zinedine Zidane's moment of madness in the 2006 final. The legendary goalkeeper believes his own heroics between the sticks pushed the French icon over the edge before his shocking headbutt on Marco Materazzi.
Former France international Christophe Dugarry has launched a scathing attack on Rayan Cherki, questioning the immense hype surrounding the Manchester City playmaker. Despite his recent âŹ36.5 million move to England and an impressive debut season across all competitions, the 1998 World Cup winner believes the 22-year-old is far from being the finished article for the national side.
Didier Deschamps is preparing to step down as the manager of the France national team following the 2026 World Cup in North America. After 14 years in charge, he is leaving his options open regarding his next career move, while legendary former Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to take over the managerial reins this summer.
France are preparing for a seismic shift in the dugout as Zinedine Zidane has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to become the next head coach of Les Bleus. The legendary former Real Madrid boss is set to succeed Didier Deschamps following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup in North America. Zidane has been out of work since leaving Los Blancos for a second time in 2021.
Marseille forward Mason Greenwood and his team-mates enjoyed a memorable mid-week team-building session at a state-of-the-art padel complex. Following a recent league victory, manager Habib Beye took the squad to meet football icon Zinedine Zidane. The players swapped the grass pitch for the courts, bonding and shaking hands with the 1998 World Cup winner.