Sent-off Zidane named best player : BBC
Zinedine Zidane won the Golden Ball award for the World Cup's best player, despite being dismissed for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the final, BBC reported on Monday.
France captain Zidane polled 2012 points in the vote by journalists covering the tournament. The midfielder, 34, beat Italians Fabio Cannavaro (1977 points) and Andrea Pirlo (715 points) in the ballot. He played his last game on Sunday, scoring a penalty and being red-carded as France were defeated on penalties. The former international player of the year and 1998 World Cup winner announced last month that he was retiring from football after the tournament. On Sunday, he put France ahead from the spot in the opening minutes but was sent off after slamming his head into Materazzi's chest during the tense second period of overtime, which ended 1-1. It was to be his last act as a professional player and, with the French missing his prowess in the ensuing penalty shootout, Italy went on to claim the World Cup title. Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn won the Golden Ball in 2002, while other previous winners include Brazilians Ronaldo (1998) and Romario ('94), Italy's Salvatore Schillaci ('90) and Argentine great Diego Maradona. Germany striker Miroslav Klose was the Golden Shoe winner for the tournament's leading scorer with five goals.
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