The Tragedy and Legacy of Zinedine Zidane

A swift exchange of words, a moment of madness, followed by a flurry of action - that was all it took to prove the mortality of Man. First, it was Germany vs Argentina, then Rooney, and now Zidane. Adidas Teamgeist or not, the ball can never be perfectly round, and the beautiful game will always be imperfect. This imperfection - a verity of life, is what makes soccer so spectacular - from the Hand of God to the Schumacher-Battiston incident and now the Zidane-Materazzi incident.

Despite all the hype about Zidane, Zidane still remains a man. History will be kinder. His actions will be forgiven, and the man himself will not be forgotten. Zidane will be remembered - he may not share a place among soccer greats like Pelé and Diego Maradona, but he will have a place alongside Franz Beckenbauer and Michel Platini.

It has been a lifetime of outstanding performance for Zidane. He has given soccer fans more than they had ever dreamed of. The son of an immigrant brought up in the aftermath of the Algerian War, he has defied critics and inspired countless others living in the spotlight of discrimination. There can be no doubt that Zidane will make the best of his circumstances. The journey is far more important than the destination. His spirit lives on.

Technorati: Zidane, Worldcup