The canonization of France legend Zinedine Zidane continues. Midfielder Franck Ribery says he looks forward to the day when he can tell his grandchildren how he played on the same field with the great Zidane. “He is great, extraordinary,” Ribery said, “and it will be great when later on in my career, or even when it’s over, when I can say ‘I played with Zizou.'” Ribery’s meteoric rise has been well-documented by the French media, who after five matches have hailed him as the successor to Zidane as Les Bleus midfield talisman. ‘There’s a good atmosphere in the squad and you can see that on the pitch,” he said, adding that senior players like Zidane, Thierry Henry, Lilian Thuram, and Claude Makelele have helped him ease into the team. Prior to making France’s 23-man World Cup squad, Ribery had never been capped for his country. Now, he is an undisputed starter. As a 15-year-old boy, Ribery says he remembers joining in the massive street celebrations along the Champs-Elysses as France beat Brazil to win its first World Cup. Ribery plays for Marseille, the club Zidane supported as a boy; they are both Muslim.