France got rid of its royalty 150 years ago but if kings were to make a comeback, Zinedine Zidane would be hot favorite to be first on the throne.
The popularity of the 31-year-old Zidane is extraordinary, bearing in mind he has not played for a French club since 1996.
No-one has a bad word to say about "Zizou" whose gentle personality, devotion to his family and dislike of the limelight only add to the lustre of his displays for club and country.
The midfielder's two goals in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil sealed France's greatest sporting achievement.
That victory in Paris was also a defining moment in modern French life and Zidane, the son of Algerian immigrants, became a symbol for many of how French society should evolve.
A poll in 2000 showed Zidane was France's favorite personality, ahead of an 87-year-old Catholic priest who gave up a wealthy life to care for the poor.
Zidane is arguably the most talented player of the past decade and he has been nominated for the 2003 World Footballer of the Year award with French compatriot Thierry Henry of Arsenal and Real Madrid team mate Ronaldo of Brazil.
Twice a winner of the award, Zidane moved from Juventus to Real Madrid in 2001 for a world-record fee of US$64.4 million.
Playing for the finest national team in French history, Zidane won the European title in 2000. He suffered an injury shortly before the 2002 World Cup finals and his absence in the early games was one of the reasons why the team failed to make it past the first round.
This year he has helped Real to win the Spanish title and France to score 13 straight victories, a national record.
His rise from an under-privileged area of Marseille has inspired millions of French children. The fact that he has remained unchanged as a man has inspired millions of their parents.
"In the world of football, there are certain fictional characters -- Zinedine Zidane for example," says French writer Max Gallo. "Zidane has a destiny."
"He is the perfect illustration of what one calls a sportsman," said Edmonde Charles-Roux, a member of the prestigious Goncourt literary academy. "He has remained an exemplary citizen ... he is a prince."
This month Zidane returned home with Real to play against Olympique Marseille, the club he supported as a child, for the first time in 10 years.
Under the headline "He Returns," L'Equipe ran five pages of quotes from players, managers and other worthies about Zidane, many of which would have made even the biggest ego blush.
Zidane is uncomfortable with this sort of adulation. His hero as a child was Uruguay's Enzo Francescoli, a player Zidane admired as much for his personal qualities as his skill.
"The most important thing is to set an example to youngsters who dream of becoming professional footballers," Zidane says.
Zidane generally keeps his opinions to himself. The exception was when presidential candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen, head of the anti-immigrant National Front, sneered at the multi-ethnic France team for not being truly French.
Zidane still refuses to use Le Pen's name. "We were born in France, we are French. Pure French," Zidane says.
With 18 months left on his contract, Zidane is turning his thoughts to retirement but he is unlikely to become a manager.
"I would be quite happy living quietly with my wife and children away from this environment. I wouldn't miss it," he said.
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