Zidane's Madrid career reaches crucial juncture

MADRID - Zinedine Zidane inspired France to World Cup glory as a player, but his extraordinary career has to a large degree been defined by the Champions League.

His magnificent volleyed goal for Real Madrid in its 2002 win over Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park in Glasgow is one of the greatest to be scored in a European Cup final.

That strike is up there with his brace in France's 1998 win over Brazil, his country's Euro 2000 triumph and the infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final among the most memorable moments of his playing days.