Zidane Wins Golden Ball
Soccer: World Cup: Who says crime doesn't pay? Zinedine Zidane has been voted the player of the tournament, despite his shocking chestbutt in last night's final.
Zinedine Zidane has been awarded the Golden Ball as the best player at the World Cup, despite his sending-off in the final last night.
The France legend, playing in his final match before retirement, was dismissed in extra-time for chestbutting Italy's Marco Materazzi.
The voting for the award was carried at half-time in the final, which France went on to lose on penalties. Zidane, 34, topped a poll of journalists covering the event with 2,012 points, ahead of Italian pair Fabio Cannavaro (1,977) and Andrea Pirlo (715).
Zidane was disappointing in France's opening games and was suspended for their crucial final group match against Togo, but he returned to give match-winning performances against Spain, Brazil and Portugal and had hoped for a glorious career finale in Berlin. That was on course to happen as he netted the penalty that gave France the lead, but Italy responded to take the match to extra-time.
Zidane had a great chance to win the game when he forced a fine save from Gianluigi Buffon with a header, but the last memory of him on a field was him charging at Materazzi and butting him in his chest, apparently over a comment made by the defender.
Despite his indiscretion, he will be regarded as one of the game's greatest players, having inspired France to success at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
The France legend, playing in his final match before retirement, was dismissed in extra-time for chestbutting Italy's Marco Materazzi.
The voting for the award was carried at half-time in the final, which France went on to lose on penalties. Zidane, 34, topped a poll of journalists covering the event with 2,012 points, ahead of Italian pair Fabio Cannavaro (1,977) and Andrea Pirlo (715).
Zidane was disappointing in France's opening games and was suspended for their crucial final group match against Togo, but he returned to give match-winning performances against Spain, Brazil and Portugal and had hoped for a glorious career finale in Berlin. That was on course to happen as he netted the penalty that gave France the lead, but Italy responded to take the match to extra-time.
Zidane had a great chance to win the game when he forced a fine save from Gianluigi Buffon with a header, but the last memory of him on a field was him charging at Materazzi and butting him in his chest, apparently over a comment made by the defender.
Despite his indiscretion, he will be regarded as one of the game's greatest players, having inspired France to success at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
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