Zinedine Zidane will forever be heralded as one of football’s all-time greats.
The Frenchman was an artist out on the pitch throughout his distinguished professional career, one who made the very hardest aspects of the sport look effortlessly easy.
Perhaps Zidane’s finest asset of all was his supreme first touch, which meant he always had space and time to weave his magic.
There are countless examples of Zidane killing a ball stone dead with pure nonchalance, with each one an absolute treat for the eyes.
Read more: Zinedine Zidane: Video shows legend’s first touch was out of this world
Many of them came in match situations, although there’s one from a training session with France at the 2006 World Cup that can rival any produced by the great man – or any other legend.
The touch from Zidane at the start of video clip available below is so good, it almost doesn’t look real – and the ball juggling from ‘Zizou’ while wearing an incredibly oversized pair of shorts wasn’t bad either.
But it’s the first touch after he boots the ball high into the air that’s undoubtedly the headline act. It gets more and more ridiculous with every replay as well…
Video: Zidane’s outrageous first touch in 2006 World Cup training
2006 World Cup Training pic.twitter.com/dBh650CKB4
— Stop That Zizou (@StopThatZizou) November 4, 2022
Read more: World Cup: Zinedine Zidane’s iconic 2006 tournament remembered
What on earth is that sorcery?! If a mere mortal attempted it, the ball would hit the foot at an awkward angle and the veer off to one side in a clumsy, inelegant manner.
But when it’s Zidane, the ball is under his spell and does whatever he tells it to.
Here’s some of the best fan reaction to the quite magnificent display of footballing technique…
You really will be hard pushed to find a football fan who doesn’t adore Zidane.
Even the most fervent of Barcelona fans – or supporters of Italian defender Marco Materazzi – will have a soft spot for the Ballon d’Or winner somewhere.
Will Zidane be returning to management soon?
After a prolonged sabbatical, it looks like Zidane will be back in the managerial game at the start of next year.
The man who won three Champions Leagues on the spin while in the Real Madrid hot-seat is set to replace Didier Deschamps as manager of France following the conclusion of the Qatar World Cup, per esRadio’s Sergio Valentin.
Zidane leading Les Bleus to glory at Euro 2024? Yeah, we can see it happening too…
Quiz: Can you name all 30 of these ‘streets won’t forget’ players from World Cups?
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