legends of madrid

Excerpt of an Interview with Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo

When you get together what is the first thing that you remember about your time together?

Ronaldo: We spent some fantastic years together. Everyday was great fun and we enjoyed ourselves. For me it was an honour. Zizou is one of the greatest players that I have ever trained and played with. The truth is we experienced some incredible moments. 

Zidane: And not only playing together but against each other!

Ronaldo: Yes we played against each other in Italy many times!

Zidane: We played together but also against each other in games between France and Brazil.

Interviewer: And is it better to be on the same team, or against each other?

Ronaldo: Well it is better if he is with me.

Zidane: Much better to play on the same side. He gave me too many problems with Brazil.

Can you remember one particular moment in each others careers that you will always remember?

Zidane: The World Cup Final of 2002 is one game in particular that comes to mind and always makes me happy. I was watching the game at home, and Ronnie had been injured for a while and was not 100% fit. I watched Ronnie score and Brazil win knowing that it’s difficult to perform when you are not 100% fit. He had received a lot of criticism with people saying he would not make it. I was watching the game with my children and seeing it made me happy.

And do you (Ronaldo) have an image of Zizou that you will always remember?

Ronaldo: Many, and not just the incredible goals that come to mind like the one in the CL final of 2002. That was a great goal. However my strongest memory was a move that I played a part in against Valladolid. He started outside the area turning two defenders. I made a wall for him and played him through. He could have shot and probably scored but a defender came out and he turned him with a roulette dribble. The keeper came out, he rounded him, then fired the ball into the stand. It was the most beatuiful goal that never was. 

Zidane: I had a friend in the top stand. 

Ronaldo: And you gave him the ball as a gift (both laugh).