Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil has revealed that he grew up trying to emulate Zinedine Zidane.
The German international said that he learned about the legendary Frenchman at the 1998 World Cup, when Zidane scored twice in the final as Les Bleus beat Brazil 3-0 to lift the trophy.
Zidane also featured prominently two years later as France won the European Championships and Ozil admitted that he idolised the former Madrid man as a youngster.
"I discovered Zizou during the World Cup in France, 1998, I have never seen so much charisma on grass," Ozil told So Foot. "From then on, I always wanted to be Real Madrid and the French national team on the console.
"When I saw him make a move, I would look for it on YouTube. I'd write 'Zinedine Zidane' in the search box and watch the videos.
"I told myself, 'I have to do that on the pitch'. And I would end up trying to mimic his moves as soon as I could."
Ozil signed for Los Blancos from Werder Bremen in 2010.
Paul Gorst
