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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Asharq Al-Awsat

Zidane Volley in 2002 Champions League Final Immortalized in Crystal

Former French football player and European Leukodystrophy Association (ELA) patron Zinedine Zidane poses with the ‘Zidane's Crystal Foot’ on June 12, 2018 in Paris. (AFP)

Zinedine Zidane's stunning volley for Real Madrid in the 2002 Champions League final has been immortalized in crystal.

The World Cup-winning Frenchman unveiled "Zidane's Crystal Foot", a collection of 100 crystal statuettes of his revered left foot that will be sold at 40,000 euros ($47,000) each to raise money for charity.

Zidane was surprised to see his foot, which hammered home a hanging ball against Bayer Leverkusen 16 years ago, was so highly regarded.

"My foot isn't worth anything, no. Not in my view anyway," Zidane said at the launch in Paris on Tuesday.

The figures, made to order by jeweler Baccarat, are cut above the ankle and placed on a black stand with Zidane's signature engraved on it.

Each has an individual number from 1-100 and buyers can choose their own. However, the number "98" recalling Zidane's World Cup victory with France that year has already been sold.

The money raised is going to the European Leukodystrophies Association (ELA), which funds research into the rare disease and provides support for families. Zidane is a patron for the charity. ($1 = 0.8488 euros)

Zidane stepped down as Real Madrid manager last month after winning a third straight Champions League title.

On Monday, he said he was happy to have some time off.

"I've got my feet up and am feeling good," Zidane told AFP at the inauguration of a playground in Saint Denis, the north Parisian suburb that is home to the Stade de France where he starred for the French team that won the 1998 World Cup.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," the 45-year-old added. "The most important thing is the decision I've taken, the rest we'll see."

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