Puzzle Description:

Three-time FIFA Golden Ball winner, Zinedine Zidane. Title explained in comments.

#1: Teresa K (fasstar) on Jun 14, 2010 [SPOILER]

Zidane won the FIFA Golden Ball award for the third time in 2006, then retired.

If you are a FIFA fan, then you may have recognized the image before you finished solving. But if you are like me, you would not have a clue. What impressed me was not his skills in the World Cup games, but his post-retirement efforts to support various charities.

A U.N. goodwill ambassador since 2001, Zidane has participated in several fundraising events for programs that benefit children in need. He said, "Everyone can do something to make the world a better place." What can you do?

Image used for this puzzle:
http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kwvv1ozAS31qax6zoo1_500.jpg

Wiki page with details of his many accomplishments:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinedine_Zidane

Very cool video that shows his greatness:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhcM4WP2cTc

French team is not the same since he retired. Now, everybody knows Spain is favorite to win :)
And nice puzzle.

A very old photo - he had much less hair than that in his latter career!

Thanks, Juan Luis.

Yes, Leigh, I chose the older photo with the hair for two reasons - I thought it would make a more interesting, recognizable image, and I like hair on men. I like natural baldness and natural hair, but not shaved. I like his little bald spot too. :-)

Thanks for a wonderful entry! Fun solve, nice end result.
I miss him, what a good player!

Thanks, Jota.

I love these portraits done with just outlines. I don't know anything about soccer so I don't know who this is but it is a great puzzle. Good job!

Thanks, Susan.

plus he is one mean headbutter

Very nice image and a decent challenge to solve. The complete package.

Thanks, Martin.

this was very challenging and very fun to solve.

thx, Teresa!
Sorry, Juan Luis, revenge for Euro 2008 is near. Go, Germany, go!

Nice puzzle Teresa.
Kai and Juan Luis: Argentina with Messi and Maradona as couch... we'll see...
Juan Luis: lástima Suiza, no?

Claudia: el fútbol es así :(

thx for very nice entry, T

Very fun to solve!

Thanks, Claudia.

Good to see you back, Petra!

excellent image and puzzle. :) I, like you, didn't know him.

USA! USA! USA!

e tambem: "Vai Brasil!" (minha segunda time favorita)

LOL #10 I remember watching that game. Was that his last one?

This was in my saved puzzles. I don't usually solve such large puzzles but I do love your portraits Teresa. I don't know this gentleman but still had fun finishing up this puzzle.

Thanks, Carol. I didn't know of him either, but when I saw his picture in the news, I thought, what a good lookin guy, he'll make a nice puzzle.

My only association with the name Zinedine Zidane (other than being an absolutely excellent name) is his famous headbutt of another player - at about 35 seconds in this clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITdPTKpGHuI

Goto next topic

You must register and log in to be able to participate in this discussion.