Soundoff: Remaking Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait.

By: chris | February 3rd, 2010

Halfway between a sports documentary and an conceptual art installation, “Zidane” consists in a full-length soccer game (Real Madrid vs. Villareal, April 23, 2005) entirely filmed from the perspective of soccer superstar Zinedine Zidane.

A film crew, stationed throughout the Santiago Bernabeu, watched Zidane and Zidane alone for 90 minutes…well, an hour or so until he was sent off. From it was born the movie Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait. It’s a wonderful film tracking the ghost of a man who is a genius both on and off the ball, a supreme rarity in football in any era.

But now that’s Zidane’s gone, who could take his place?

No, not “who is the next Zidane?” – there are enough of those popping up daily on French primary school playgrounds…or so the media would tell you – but who could a film crew follow for 90 minutes of subtle, swooping, darting football with and without that little sphere they’re always on about?

It’s a bit harder than you think, notably because footballing intelligence is a far rarer commodity than simply picking up a gift basket upon signing a professional contract.

If we wanted to go off script, and maybe a bit off our rockers, Jens Lehmann would have to be a wonderful choice. And perhaps rated NC-17.

If looking for the footballing equivalent of a non-stop, all-action Hollywood blockbuster, maybe Dirk Kuyt or Simone Perrotta would do.

But for the legitimate subtle yet apparent genius, the choices get few and far between. There is no new Zidane – not yet. The Barcelona attack – any of them – are all quite worthy choices, and it’d probably heighten the experience watching each being fed such exquisite balls time after time after time, but that’s almost too easy. Perhaps Cesc…though if we just wait til the summer, we can lump him in with the Barcelona crew.

I think, for now, I would have to nominate Luka Modric. He is, and has been for some time, one of the most intelligent players in the game, and is equally good threading the ball as he is finding the space to relieve a teammate. The Cruijff comparisons are a bit far-fetched, but his footballing brain is top-notch.

Now, who’s your star in the marquee?

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Category: World Football

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BHE

I can only think of Wayne Rooney, but I doubt he will be a new Zinedine Zidane
arshavinist

The Rooney NASCAR observation is priceless.
MoMONEY

Some of these suggestions are quite insane... This is Zinedine friggin Zidane we are talking about. Gourcuff is similar but nowhere near the same level... Nobody really. Id pick iniesta of Xavi though....
Lawrence Taylor

I'd take Iniesta over Zidane anyday. Zidane is overated in my opinion.
AMERICA#1

Kyle Beckerman. Hands down. So obvious. You talk about poise, grace, composure... great hair, ball skill, and rigorous competition... you think of Kyle Beckerman. I'd watch him for 90 days. Plus he won the world championship in soccerball last year. so definitely Kyle Beckerman, what a great soccerball player man.
Mustafa

Luka Modric = the love of my life
moka

inzaghi :D
Vivek

Guti :P
mlyons

Totti.
Kev

It really depends on the type of film you're wanting to see. Everyone's suggestions above are excellent choices each in their own right. What amazed me about the Zidane film was how little he was involved in the game. Most of the movie was him walking, not talking. Then explode into action for a few seconds and then back to walking. It made the times where he was running with the ball and creating that much more special.

If you're looking to create a similar movie to Zidane using a player from today, you could not go with a Cesc or a Xavi because they are involved almost anytime their teams have the ball (although I would LOVE to watch just both for 90 minutes). Messi springs to mind as one option. Maybe Ibrahimovic. What about Beckham for star quality? Totti, Ballack seem like other similar options.
Brian

I believe the next best choice after Zidane would be Ribery. He has the look of a battle tested gladiator and his style of play has a ferocious intensity that would keep me on the edge of my seat.

Watching Zidane would show the smooth, beautiful and almost effortless side of the game, while Ribery would give us a glimpse of a frantic, 90 minute fight for survival on the pitch.
Ryan

Niko Kranjcar
Marlon

Oliviero, I'd definitely watch a Xabi Alonso but I don't think he's enough of a star.
Jan

I would love to see that Jens Lehmann movie as well! :-)

Another movie I'd like to see would be about the special breed of "con artist" strikers. Those who are seemingly invisible and disconnected from the game for 89 minutes, fooling defenders and giving them a false sense of security, just to pop up out of nowhere to score the winning goal. E.g. Inzaghi spending a whole game in the opposition's offside trap would make a wonderful movie.
ricci

Antonio Cassano
Carviv

Has to be Kaka. His perfect passing and the way he finds space. His vision of the field is unmatched. Even without the ball, he is always in the perfect position.
Oliviero

personally id love to watch Del Piero, in my opinion one of the most intelligent players of all time, also Buffon because hes the best goalie in the world. That's just me as a Juventus fan but if I had to watch one player in the world not on Juventus I'd choose Xavi, Pirlo, or Xabi Alonso. I would also say that Zidane is uncomparable, he's just on another level like Kobe.
Brenton

What was phenomenal about Zidane was his composure. Watching Wayne Rooney might be interesting but the above comment is right on, it would be like watching NASCAR. Zidane brought finesse and calm to the game, whereas Rooney (or Tevez or Gerrard) bring crazy energy. The only comparison that I can think of right now is Xavi for Barca.
Laurie

I'm getting behind the Mad Jens idea. Peeing on signboards optional.
Zidane

Riquelme?
Zidane

or Thierry Henry
alan

what made the zidane film good was that zidane himself is graceful as one can be. soft on the touch and his movement is quite different. A rooney film, are u guys serious....that would be like watching nascar, he does not have the sam aura, neither do gerrard, lampard, ribery, kaka, cesc none of these guys. to even film anyone in epl is crazy as well because the ball moves all over the place at break neck speed. zidane's game to record was specifically chosen as it was real v villareal, at the time 2 of the best possession teams on the planet, no long balls no 100 miles per hour. real were the galacticos and villareal had senna and riquelme (who at the time was ridiculously sublime) would have been worth watching a video of him, almost out shone zidane in his own video. anyway my point is only view guys can bring across such a video. of all the people only xavi in my opinion is even close, and worth viewing in such a medium.
Marlon

Fabergas
Zidane

Besides Zidane, I would have to say Cantona.
Speaking of the ones today, I would pick Ronaldinho.
Luke Rowe

Again, not a ManU fan, but Wayne Rooney is half way there already.
Al

With his ethical prowess? How about Charlie Manson or the nightstalker?
Caleb

Luka Modric? Really? If you could follow one footballer for 90 minutes it would be Modric. Over Lampard,Gattuso, Pirlo, Messi, or possibly the best choice, Kaka. Modric? Not Fabregas, Gerrard or one who I think would be awesome, John Terry? Giggs? Scholes? Rooney? There are at least 25 players worth following. I mean, to each his own but I'd love to watch Kaka or Lampard boss a midfield or see Gattuso or Terry scare the daylights out of strikers. Or see the plays unfold like Pirlo or Messi? Now I'm stoked.
tim

in that luka modric video there is no one bigger than 6'0
star_bury

There's a lot of people I could watch for 90 minutes: Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, Frank Lampard, Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Esteban Cambiasso, Daniel De Rossi, David Silva, Xavi, Kaka, Frank Ribery....but none are Zidane.

How about following around Fellaini and his hair?
Dani

Wayne Rooney without a doubt , and I'm not a Manchester fan !
vHF

Has to be Paul Scholes.