Zidane!
Out of context: Reply #87
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Zinedine Zidane has been awarded the Golden Ball as the best player at the World Cup despite his sending off in the final on Sunday night.
The France legend, playing in his final match before retirement, was dismissed in extra time for headbutting Italy's Marco Materazzi.
The voting for the award was carried out at half-time in the final, which France went on to lose on penalties.
The 34-year-old topped a of poll journalists covering the event ahead with 2,012 points ahead of Italian pair Fabio Cannavaro (1,977) and Andrea Pirlo (715).
Zidane was disappointing in France's opening games and was suspended for their crucial final group match against Togo.
He returned to give match-winning performances against Spain, Brazil and Portugal and had hoped for a glorious career finale in Berlin.
That was on course to happen as he netted the penalty that gave France the lead but Italy responded to take the match to extra time.
Zidane had a great chance to win the game when he forced a fine save from Gianluigi Buffon with a header but the last memory of him on a field was him charging at Materazzi and headbutting him in his chest over a comment made by the defender.
Despite his indiscretion, he will be regarded as one of the game's greatest players having inspired France to success at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000