While believing 1998 was not his best year as a footballer, Zinedine Zidane has conceded he wanted to be recognised as the best player in the world.
Zinedine Zidane was the best player in France as Les Bleus won his first World Cup, scoring two goals in the final against Brazil and winning the Ballon d’Or.
Despite continuing to raise the bar on football both at the club and international level, it was still the only year that he had ever won a prestigious award.
Speaking to L’Equipe to celebrate his 50th birthday, Zidane revealed that it was one of the few trophies he kept in a special play while admitting that he really wanted the status quo of the match.
“Because I give everything, I can give everything,” he said. “I probably don’t have anything at home for my job. Two or three things. I’m not only interested in objects or material things.
“I was overconfident in the first few weeks before the vote.
“I was the best player in the world. It doesn’t always happen, and it’s not just me once.
Zidane has admitted that he played well with Juventus after the World Cup victory, but believes that 2000 was his best year as a footballer as he led France “unbeaten” to the second European tournament.
“After the World Cup I had a tragedy,” he said. “I do not set foot in front of anyone else. Even my friends tell me: ‘But it’s your cousin playing, it’s your cousin back to Juve!” When you win a major trophy like the World Cup, you often give up. And I, really, really relax.
“It takes time. After January, I started again. Very well in January and February, I then injured myself. 100 days. The season is over.
“For the next two or three seasons, I did not give up. 1998 was my year but I think 1999-2000 was my biggest season. Not just for me. For the rest of our generation in blue. Our French team was special. Euro 2000 remains. for this generation. At Euro, we could not be played. “
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