5 Footballers Who Symbolise the Phrase, ‘The Beautiful Game’
Five of the best that this writer has seen in his lifetime. Opinions and debates are more than welcome!
1. Zinedine Zidane
Who else would be more suitable to begin this feature? The man from Marseille is quite possibly the finest player to ever grace the game. For eighteen seasons he beguiled opponents with his unfathomable trickery, further enforced by an exquisite grasp of how football should be played. Not only that, Zidane was a terrific passer, tough as old boots, and capable of scoring wonderful goals that appeared from even the most adverse situations. The finest example of Zidanes ethereal qualities were exemplified in the 2002 Champions League Final, when he elegantly volleyed Roberto Carlos corner into the top left of the goal with his weaker foot to secure a 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. It was at Juventus where he forged a formidable reputation, further enhanced by his brace in the 1998 World Cup Final, and in 2001 he sealed a 45 million pound move to Real Madrid, where he was the most princely of the Galacticos. To watch videos dedicated to his mastery on Youtube are an absolute delight for those who remember him fondly, and also younger generations who are only just beginning to experience Zidanes legend. To watch him live was the most thrilling of all, for you had to witness the magic to truly believe it was happening. Forget the controversy of the 2006 World Cup Final that many ignorantly thought would smear the memory of Zidane; all of what he did before will never be forgotten. Click "next" below to read the next entry...