AFP Sport picks out key moments in his career:Double on France debutJust as another French legend, Michel Platini, had done before him, Zidane scored on his international debut.Aged just 22, he came on as a substitute in a friendly against the Czech Republic and struck twice in the space of two minutes. Platini, too, had marked his debut by scoring against the then Czechoslovakia.Doing so in front of his home crowd in Bordeaux, the club he represented at the time, added the icing to the cake.Soon afterwards, 'ZZ' was handed a heavy responsibility. Following Eric Cantona's long ban for his infamous kung-fu kick on a fan, France coach Aime Jacquet designated Zidane as the playmaker.It proved to be an inspired choice.On top of the worldThe stage was set. France expected their team to win the World Cup on home soil by defeating defending champions Brazil.The team, and Jacquet in particular, had been subjected to a barrage of criticism, especially from sports daily L'Equipe.The final at the Stade de France was also set up as a battle between two stars: the brooding Zidane and the barrel-chested Ronaldo.
Zidane (R) scored an unlikely double with two headers as he inspired France to their first ever World Cup crown © PATRICK HERTZOG / AFP
