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Zidane wins Golden Ball award

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 at half-time in the final, which France went on to lose on penalties.

Zidane, 34, 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.

Player Diaries
Michael Owen
Michael Owen - July 7 2006
England
Football has given me so much, which is why I am so happy to be supporting the Nine Million Campaign to use football to help refugee children throughout the world.
Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho - July 4 2006
Brazil
I just finished watching the match between Germany and Argentina. A hard game. I was sad to see my friend Messi get eliminated, but that’s the type of game where either side has a good chance of winning.
Claude Makelele
Claude Makelele - July 11 2006
France
My first feeling at the end of the World Cup final was one of guilt. Now that might seem a strange emotion but I genuinely thought I could have done more to influence the result of the game.
Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso - July 7 2006
Spain
I would like to take this opportunity through MSN to ask everyone to support the Nine Million Campaign. The campaign is designed to help refugee children from all over the world and is closely linked to football.
Gianluigi Buffon
Gianluigi Buffon - July 10 2006
Italy
How often since I was a child I have dreamed of winning and touching that Cup! Now that we've done it I'm feeling an incredible, almost indescribable, joy. Before the World Cup, things were written about me which, quite frankly, I didn't think I deserved.
Kevin Kuranyi
Kevin Kuranyi - July 11 2006
Germany
An amazing World Cup has come to an end. Italy took the title in a dramatic final after a thrilling penalty shoot-out. In 1990, we won the World Cup in Italy. In 2006, the Italians have done the same to us.
Edgar Davids
Edgar Davids - July 13 2006
Netherlands
In the past 6 months I tried to give you an insight on how I look at The Game. For one, there are many ways to look at it. Skills, competition, style, transfers, gusto and last but definitely not least, the media, are all part of The Game.
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