Doha, Qatar, September 16 — The Qatar 2022 Bid Committee today unveiled legendary French footballer Zinedine Zidane as the latest bid ambassador, capping a week in which a delegation from FIFA was in Qatar examining the country’s bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Zidane appeared at a press conference at the Four Seasons Hotel in Doha this evening, flanked by Qatar 2022 Bid CEO Hassan Al Thawadi and other bid leaders, and announced his firm support for Qatar’s bid and their goals to bring the world’s greatest sporting event to the Middle East for the first time.

“Football is for everyone,” Zidane said. “When I think of all the youth of the Middle East, what they’re missing is an event like the World Cup. We had [the World Cup] in Africa and now it is time for the Middle East.”

A three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, Zidane captained the French National Team, helping guide the team to the 1998 World Cup title, scoring two goals in the final against Brazil in Paris, where he was named FIFA World Cup Final Man of the Match. Two years later, he led France to victory in the 2000 European Championship and was named player of the tournament. Zidane appeared in 108 matches for the French National Team between 1994 and 2006, scoring 31 goals.

In his club career, Zidane played for Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus and Real Madrid. With Zidane at the helm, Real Madrid won the 2002 UEFA Champions League. In 628 career appearances in Ligue 1, Serie A, and La Liga, Zidane scored 128 goals.

In 2004, the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll labeled Zidane the best European footballer of the past 50 years.