Temptation
Well-known member
So Zidane was clearly a clutch player throughout his career despite what some numpties said about his team losing some finals.......
Thought so.
Thought so.
JamDav1982
Senior Member
Haha no... he didnt have some 'clutch gene' others didnt have...pointing out big games he played well in doesnt impact that fact he lost 3 of 6 intl and CL finals for example.
While likes of Xavi won every final they played in of those comps.
Awful point to bring up but very expected.
Do better.
While likes of Xavi won every final they played in of those comps.
Awful point to bring up but very expected.
Do better.
Mitchell1978
Senior Member
scored winning goal in a CL final against Leverkusen
I also think ZZ is above Xavi, clearly actually, one is borderline top 10, the other around 20-30
JamDav1982
Senior Member
Xavi assisted in 2 CL finals.. and won every top final he played in. He was absolutely world class in those two finals vs Man Utd.. one of them the best ever team of best ever manager.
The one team Zidane beat in a CL final was Leverkusen... great goal mind you.
Zidane won 1 of 3 and it took a Scottish journeyman to mark out of game in one of those finals.
Xavi has 3 CLs.. Zidane has 1.
Xavi is greatest mid ever and clearly the better CL player. It isnt even close on that side of it,
Internationally Xavi has more trophies and didnt lose a final.. again...
The one team Zidane beat in a CL final was Leverkusen... great goal mind you.
Zidane won 1 of 3 and it took a Scottish journeyman to mark out of game in one of those finals.
Xavi has 3 CLs.. Zidane has 1.
Xavi is greatest mid ever and clearly the better CL player. It isnt even close on that side of it,
Internationally Xavi has more trophies and didnt lose a final.. again...
Temptation
Well-known member
Zizou had way more individual accolades and a talismanic quality in him that Xavi lacked. If boneheaded people can bring up things like the success of teams as a collective unit in individual comparisons then individual accolades should definitely be included in the discussion.
At his best, Zidane is the bigger match winner than Xavi.
Both had the technical ability but Zidane had the physicality, X Factor and leadership to go with it.
If you're selecting a player to build your team around, managers will pick Prime Zidane anytime. Even Xavi the manager himself would. Being the main man is the toughest thing in Football. Xavi had Messi as the main man in Barca and shared the star player role with Iniesta for the national team.
At his best, Zidane is the bigger match winner than Xavi.
Both had the technical ability but Zidane had the physicality, X Factor and leadership to go with it.
If you're selecting a player to build your team around, managers will pick Prime Zidane anytime. Even Xavi the manager himself would. Being the main man is the toughest thing in Football. Xavi had Messi as the main man in Barca and shared the star player role with Iniesta for the national team.
JamDav1982
Senior Member
Xavi was better in CL.. no doubt.
Zidane lost 2 finals and won 1..v Leverkusen.
Moaning about 'team game' when he lost two CL finals with Juve who had won one and lost another on penalties the two years before he arrived with largely same players.
Also on 'team game'... Zidane played for France in 1998 that could get to a WC final with him being largely average at best then sent off and suspended for semi final.
Usual folk who down play Messi now using him as reason Xavi won.. sensational.
Xavi has the better big game results... won all 6 finals.. Zidane won 3 of 6 and was outplayed by Scottish journeyman in one of those.
Juve with Zidane 'main man' failed to win CL when won 2 years before was there... won nothing in his last 3 seasons.
Real with Zidane as 'main man' won 1 league and 1 CL when had won more before he arrived... It was this time that Barca took over and won leagues and CL in 2006.
France got to 1998 final without man man doing much at all..
Zidane lost 2 finals and won 1..v Leverkusen.
Moaning about 'team game' when he lost two CL finals with Juve who had won one and lost another on penalties the two years before he arrived with largely same players.
Also on 'team game'... Zidane played for France in 1998 that could get to a WC final with him being largely average at best then sent off and suspended for semi final.
Usual folk who down play Messi now using him as reason Xavi won.. sensational.
Xavi has the better big game results... won all 6 finals.. Zidane won 3 of 6 and was outplayed by Scottish journeyman in one of those.
Juve with Zidane 'main man' failed to win CL when won 2 years before was there... won nothing in his last 3 seasons.
Real with Zidane as 'main man' won 1 league and 1 CL when had won more before he arrived... It was this time that Barca took over and won leagues and CL in 2006.
France got to 1998 final without man man doing much at all..
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Temptation
Well-known member
Immense presence. When you combine that technical ability with the physicality you get a talisman who can win the game on his own. At his best it was impossible to neutralize Zidane. Like Roy Keane said, you couldn't kick him out of the game because he was stronger than you. Xavi was much more of a system player and was nowhere near an all time great before 2008. Zidane can thrive in any system or league. Different gravy.
This game sums up my feelings. @Fati_Future_BallonDor
This game sums up my feelings. @Fati_Future_BallonDor
JamDav1982
Senior Member
Paul Lambert must be better than Zidane as out played him in a CL Final.
Top rules.
Who cares that Roy Keane says? Zidane in last season at Juve could not even get out his CL group. That is also in Keanes time.
Roy Keane played Zidane in Europe for Man Utd.. Juve won CL before Zidane and lost 2 finals with him.
Roy Keane played Zidane for Real... Real won more CLs and leagues before he arrived.
In Zidanes last 10 year at club level he won.. 3 league title and 1 CL...'Main man' with both Juve and Real doing LESS in CL once he got there as opposed to before.
He was joining the top team in Europe on both occasions.
Top rules.
Who cares that Roy Keane says? Zidane in last season at Juve could not even get out his CL group. That is also in Keanes time.
Roy Keane played Zidane in Europe for Man Utd.. Juve won CL before Zidane and lost 2 finals with him.
Roy Keane played Zidane for Real... Real won more CLs and leagues before he arrived.
In Zidanes last 10 year at club level he won.. 3 league title and 1 CL...'Main man' with both Juve and Real doing LESS in CL once he got there as opposed to before.
He was joining the top team in Europe on both occasions.
No one with sense would build there team around zidane above Xavi, none.
In his entire career while playing for stacked teams, in the very same way Xavi has.
He's won 3 league titles, 1 CL and 2 international titles.
Of all those titles he was the best player, at the euros, he wasn't the best player for France in 1998, but he game up big, so none can take that away from him. And was excellent at 2006 WC.
Much in the same way Xavi came up big for spain in multiple international tournaments and Spain wins none of them without him, even if he didn't score in the finals.
So that cancels out that.
The thing when you compare zidane to Xavi or Iniesta is that they both match him when it comes to what separates him from most which is how he showed up for France, a France team that was probably equally talented to the Spain team or close to it.
But how they both kick him in the balls.
Is their CONSISTENT excellence at club level.
Zidane played for a stacked juve team 3x CL finals in a row I think, a stacked real Madrid team.
In none of those teams was he the best player, much like Xavi and Iniesta, but they contributed more to their teams constant success than zidane ever came close to.
The words of the Juve president and multi real Madrid fans, tells you all you need to know about zidane at club level.
So at international level they are pretty much neck and neck, but at club level when it comes to consistent performances, it's not even close.
If not for Messi and Ronaldo, two players who are much better than zidane, they both would have at least one ballon do'r based of their performance with Spain at different tournaments.
In his entire career while playing for stacked teams, in the very same way Xavi has.
He's won 3 league titles, 1 CL and 2 international titles.
Of all those titles he was the best player, at the euros, he wasn't the best player for France in 1998, but he game up big, so none can take that away from him. And was excellent at 2006 WC.
Much in the same way Xavi came up big for spain in multiple international tournaments and Spain wins none of them without him, even if he didn't score in the finals.
So that cancels out that.
The thing when you compare zidane to Xavi or Iniesta is that they both match him when it comes to what separates him from most which is how he showed up for France, a France team that was probably equally talented to the Spain team or close to it.
But how they both kick him in the balls.
Is their CONSISTENT excellence at club level.
Zidane played for a stacked juve team 3x CL finals in a row I think, a stacked real Madrid team.
In none of those teams was he the best player, much like Xavi and Iniesta, but they contributed more to their teams constant success than zidane ever came close to.
The words of the Juve president and multi real Madrid fans, tells you all you need to know about zidane at club level.
So at international level they are pretty much neck and neck, but at club level when it comes to consistent performances, it's not even close.
If not for Messi and Ronaldo, two players who are much better than zidane, they both would have at least one ballon do'r based of their performance with Spain at different tournaments.
Don Juan Laporta Estruch
Well-known member
Good shout, but I'd take Gerrard personally. Far more well rounded, could play attacking mid or pivot as well as right wing. Also played in far worse team, constantly carrying that team on his back to achieve things they never had the right to achieve.
Far more iconic performances like the CL final against Milan, Cup final Vs West Ham. Many more as well.
feggydinho
Senior Member
This is 💯, Zidane individually has crazy Godesque flair but I would rather build my team around iniesta or Xavi in midfield due to them being more consistent.
CatalinR10
Senior Member
This guy looks good. He should stop wasting his time in City and come home.
The game that Xavi actually got higher rating
And what about these? Destroy Zidane at his own backyard.
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