In the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final, Zinedine Zidane scored twice in the first half.
 Zidane's growing status in the sport saw him chosen in a European XI to face a World XI  featuring a forward line of Ronaldo and Gabriel Batistuta  in December 1997
 Zidane was then sent off in the 110th minute of the game after headbutting Marco Materazzi in the chest, so he did not participate in the penalty shootout which Italy won 53

