Zinedine Zidane - awesome talent (Allsport).

Position: Midfield
Born: 23.06.72
Club: Real Madrid

The world's most expensive player, Zidane is now coming into his eighth year with the French national team, having won all of the major honours in world football.

He began his career at Cannes, before being snapped up by Bordeaux in 1992, where his silky skills first caught the eye.

After leading the French outfit to the UEFA Cup final, he moved on to Juventus where he was to win his first domestic titles.

In a mesmerising spell with the Turin giants, Zidane claimed the FIFA world player of the year award on two occasions, in 1998 and 2000.

During this time, he spearheaded his country's march to the World Cup title in 1998, capped by two goals in the final against Brazil at the Stade de France.

His sublime skills helped Roger Lemerre's side take victory at Euro 2000 as well, before he opted for a new challenge in Spain.

Real Madrid, his current employers, shelled out a world-record £46.5million for his talents and he has helped the Spanish giants cruise through the Champions League this season as well as to the top of the Primera Liga table.

He finished fourth in the world player of the year award for 2001 and has hinted that this World Cup will be his last.

"It will be the summit of my career, I'll be 30 for my last World Cup," he said in an interview late in 2001, but you can be sure that for the time being, he will be the first name on the team sheet in the Far East.