Zinedine Zidane was one of the headline guests at the Festival Dello Sport — an event organized by La Gazzetta dello Sport that celebrates sporting excellence across generations. Few embody that theme more than Zidane, who not only marked an era as a Real Madrid player but also went on to make history as a coach, winning three consecutive Champions League title.
When asked to pinpoint the best moment of his career outside of winning the World Cup with France in 1998, Zidane didn’t hesitate to return
to one of his crowning achievements in the Real Madrid dugout: the 2017 Champions League final in Cardiff, where Madrid defeated Juventus 4-1. It was widely considered the greatest Real Madrid team ever assembled — and possibly the greatest football team ever assembled.
“The best moment of my career after the World Cup? Our second Champions League against Juventus. The way we played that second half… it was truly spectacular. I’ve watched it four, five, six times… and I’ve always said: ‘This is football.’ Perfection,” said the former Real Madrid manager about the European Cup triumph in Cardiff.
That 2017 performance is widely regarded as one of the finest team displays of Zidane’s tenure — a balance of pressing, control, and ruthless execution that Juventus couldn’t handle; and as a reminder, Juventus were arguably the best defensive team in the world at that time.
Zidane also reflected on his time managing some of the most talented players of the modern era. When asked whether he’d rather coach Cristiano Ronaldo or Luka Modrić, Zidane’s admiration for both (and all) his former players was clear.
“I would coach both. I can’t answer that question because I liked both. Kroos and Benzema too. I’ve had some players… wow, incredible. It was incredible to coach them and watch them train. I had 3, 4 players… You couldn’t see the ball with them on the pitch. Modric, Kroos, Isco, Benzema, Rodrygo… they never lost the ball. Incredible,” he said.
