Remembering Zinedine Zidane's 2006 World Cup masterclass against Brazil

The stage was set

Frankfurt played host as 48,000 spectators turned out for what would become one of football's most celebrated individual performances. Brazil, the tournament favourites, faced France in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals on 1 July 2006, with legends of the game scattered across both teams.

Contrasting tournament paths

Carlos Alberto Parreira's Brazil arrived as Confederations Cup winners, featuring stars like Ronaldinho, Kaká and Ronaldo, who dreamed of matching the side from 1970 as the greatest side in World Cup history. France, meanwhile, had limped through the group stage before stunning Spain.

Tactical adjustments

Even if he wasn't fully fit, Brazil still sensed danger: Parreira made significant changes, dropping Adriano and Emerson for Gilberto Silva (right) and Juninho Pernambucano (left). The coach had hoped Gilberto, who had previously nullified Zidane in Arsenal's Champions League victory over Real Madrid, could repeat the trick for his country.

Domenech's bold prediction

However, France coach Raymond Domenech (left) watched Brazil's team selection with growing confidence. "When I saw they had taken out Adriano and put in Juninho, I was even more confident," he said in quotes carried by FIFA. "I said to my players, 'The Brazilians are scared of us'."

Zidane begins his masterpiece

Thus, within 35 seconds, Zidane collected the ball and glided past three Brazilian defenders with implausible ease. The opening sequence saw him twist away from challenges, drop his shoulder to wrong-foot opponents, and emerge with the ball still glued to his feet.

Dictating the tempo

From as early as the opening minutes, Zidane dropped deep to collect possession, spraying passes with both feet to stretch Brazil's defence. His first touch was immaculate, killing difficult balls instantly before releasing teammates with perfectly weighted through-balls and diagonal switches.

Pirouettes and skill

Throughout the first half, Zidane spun on his axis to evade tackles, his famous roulette leaving defenders grasping at air. He performed drag-backs with surgical precision, pulling the ball away from lunging boots before accelerating into space that shouldn't have existed.

Brazil's stars embarrassed

Zidane's step-overs sent defenders the wrong way repeatedly. One mesmeric sequence saw him shimmy past Lúcio (pictured) with a feint, then drag the ball through Gilberto Silva's legs before the Arsenal midfielder could react. Both Brazilians ended up on the turf, bamboozled, and Juan was forced to scythe down Patrick Vieira to spare their blushes.

Surprising statistic

The goal marked a surprising landmark: it was just the second time Zidane had assisted Henry in their 54 international appearances together. Their first combination had come at Euro 2000 against Denmark.

Teammates in awe

"He was a magician throughout," said Florent Malouda (right), in quotes carried by the FIFA website, after witnessing Zidane's display. "You'd need 30 minutes for a highlight reel of his performance."

Brazil's record broken

The defeat ended Brazil's remarkable streak of 11 consecutive World Cup victories. Their previous tournament loss had come in the 1998 final, when a Zidane-inspired France triumphed 3-0, making this another chapter in the Frenchman's World Cup legacy.

A timeless performance

Zidane's display against Brazil remains one of the greatest individual performances in football history. In what proved to be his third-last international match, the French legend produced a masterclass that will be remembered long after the final whistle echoed around Frankfurt.