Zidane named best player
Sports
July 14, 2006
Zidane named best player

French captain Zinedine Zidane has won the FIFA Golden Ball award for the World Cup Finals in Germany this year.

Zidane was sent off in the final match for head butting Italian defender Marco Materazzi. The Italians eventually won the event on penalty kicks with David Trazeguet missing his attempt for the French. {{more}}After his dismissal he was not allowed on the pitch to collect his runners-up medal, instead had the solitary confinement of the dressing room to ponder his actions.

Though Zidane’s career ended on a sour note, he was voted the Player of the Tournament by journalists. He polled 2012 votes against Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro’s 1977 points.

The golden shoe went to German striker Miroslav Klose and Gigi Buffon won the award for the top keeper.