THE HISTORY BOYS

How the ‘98 World Cup changed the lives of three legends

New HISTORY documentary The Three Musketeers: France ‘98, examines how the 1998 World Cup transformed the lives of three iconic footballers. Our reporters, who were there 20 years ago, recall how David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo came of age in very different ways.

DAVID BECKHAM BY JEREMY ARMSTRONG NEWS REPORTER AT FRANCE ‘98

David Beckham described the France ‘98 sending off as his ‘worst’ career moment. Anger at his petulant reaction to a foul by Argentine Diego Simeone saw fans hang an effigy of him in London. The penalty shoot-out defeat after Michael Owen’s ‘wonder goal’ meant Beckham was blamed for blowing our bid for glory. But he said sorry and bounced back with the winning penalty against Argentina at Japan 2002 and became one of the most recognisable faces in world sport.

RONALDO BY ANDY STENNING DAILY MIRROR PHOTOGRAPHER AT FRANCE ‘98

Ronaldo was already the biggest star in the world, but when he was dropped for the final and then reinstated it created one of football’s great mysteries. The original Ronaldo did not need the conspiracy theories that have subsequently followed him to cement his place in football folklore, but maybe it just added a bit of extra mystique to the Brazilian, who is still asked about what happened to this day.

ZINEDINE ZIDANE BY MIKE WALTERS SPORTS REPORTER AT FRANCE ‘98

ALTHOUGH our neighbours across the Channel became a republic more than 200 years ago, the last king of France reigned in 1998, and his name was Zinedine Zidane. Two goals in the World Cup final against Brazil – both of them headers, although aerial prowess was not his strongest suit – consecrated ZZ Top as the player of the tournament as Les Bleus became the first winners of the trophy on home soil since Argentina in 1978.