Zidane to call it quits after WC

Real Madrid's playmaker announced that he will retire from international football after the tournament.

Real Madrid's inspirational French playmaker Zinedine Zidane announced on Wednesday that he will retire from football after this summer's World Cup in Germany.

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Zidane initially announced his retirement from international football in August 2004 after a disastrous Euro campaign with France.

But the Marseille-born father-of-four went back on that decision a year later to help the French national team qualify for the June 9-July 9 World Cup.

Zidane, FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998, 2000 and 2003, has so far won 99 caps for France, including 17 as captain, and his two headed goals in the final against Brazil secured the 1998 World Cup.

Zidane became the world's most expensive player in 2001 when he moved from Juventus to Real Madrid for 63.6 million dollars.

He has picked up three Italian and Spanish league winners medals, as well as winning the Champions League in 2002 with Real.

France are grouped in this year's World Cup with Switzerland, South Korea and Togo.