Zinédine Zidane's unexpected gesture stunned Belgium
During a friendly match in Belgium on Monday evening, Zinedine Zidane celebrated Michael Olise’s goal in an unexpected way, delivering a sudden kick to the first ball that was lying near his technical area, before the final whistle (1‑0).
The gesture that took over the screens
The manager of the French gave a brutal kick to the ball, a gesture that was immediately shared on social media. “I don’t even know what I did,” he said, visibly embarrassed, during the subsequent press conference. The footage of this moment has already gone viral.
A memorable memory from Euro 2000
This is not the first time Zidane has created a surprise in the same venue. Twenty‑six years ago, at the peak of his career, he shocked the King Baudouin Stadium in front of fifty‑thousand spectators during the Euro 2000 semi‑final. The French, 1998 world champions, had beaten Portugal in extra time thanks to a decisive penalty.
That match gave Zizou a series of memorable actions: aerial controls, blind passes, big through‑balls and devastating dribbles. One of his later moves, a chest control followed by a left‑foot pass, is still heavily discussed online.
Zidane changes nine starters and leads France to victory
During the press conference, Zidane explained: “What’s certain is that I followed Michael’s action, because I felt he was off in his dribble. He performed an exceptional move. And then, I saw the ball, and I thought: ‘Well, I have to shoot at it.’” He admitted it was a bit ridiculous, but downplayed the incident.
Today’s scene adds a new meme to the collection of the legendary midfield maestro. Nothing has changed in 2026: the same enthusiasm, the same talent, and the same ability to create moments that remain etched in memory.
Zinedine Zidane frees the Blues, win in Belgium validates his plan
Ultimately, the 1‑0 victory of France in Belgium ends with a celebration that will be remembered, recalling Zinedine Zidane’s past exploits and reinforcing his status as an icon of French football.