Ben Radford / Getty Images

France's Zinedine Zidane is shown a red card by referee Horacio Elizondo during the World Cup final.

A player of uncommon skill and technical poise, Zidane’s command of almost any ball, his vision and penchant for big-game goals has earned him comparisons to the greatest creative talents in soccer.

His temper has been another matter.

Playing for Juventus five years ago, Zidane butted Jochen Kientz of Hamburger SV in a Champions League match, also earning a red card.

Eight years ago, Zidane was red-carded for stomping on an opponent while playing Saudi Arabia. At this World Cup he collected two yellow cards and was suspended for France’s third group match against Togo.

On Sunday, his penalty kick got France off to a fast start. He chipped the kick into the air and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon dived to his right. The ball sailed over Buffon, hit the underside of the crossbar and dropped over the line.

Zidane raised an arm in the air as coolly as he had taken the kick.

It was Zidane’s 31st goal for Les Bleus in 108 appearances, and fifth in the World Cup. He also scored a second straight penalty after notching the winner in the semifinal match against Portugal and had two goals in the 1998 World Cup final when France beat Brazil 3-0.

Slideshow   The Week in Sports Pictures A kayaker flips out, a racehorse eyes the Triple Crown and more. more photos

He almost scored a late goal Sunday in the first half of extra time, but Buffon tipped his powerful header over the bar.

France’s success at this year’s World Cup had much to do with the now-retired Zidane, including a penalty kick against Portugal in the semifinal. Taking two steps, Zidane sent the ball into the bottom left corner, just out of the reach of Portugal goalkeeper Ricardo Pereira.

Zidane also scored in the second-round win over Spain, a typically skillful goal which saw him cut inside a defender and then beat goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Against Brazil in the quarterfinal, Zidane played as well as he ever has. His precise passes split Brazil’s defense, his fakes sent players the wrong way, and he even twice pointed one way as if to indicate the direction of his pass and then turned around sharply in his signature spin move.

So much for those pre-tournament reports that Zidane had lost his edge, which privately are believed to have infuriated him to the point of snubbing the press.

Reports of his hot temper, however, cannot be denied now.

More news

Richard Wolowicz / Getty Images

Beckham gets away with a lot

  PST: Let’s talk about the elephant in the MLS room. It’s David Beckham’s treatment by the men in the middle. And possibly by the league, where the question of “double-standard” may be getting a big test.

PST: QBR's Barton suspended, very suspended

PST: Joey Barton needs a good shaking. Or something. But since we’re an evolved species, and since Barton isn’t a little toddler throwing a temper tantrum – ahem, we’re all thinking the same thing, so let’s just move on – we don’t do those kinds of things.

Headlines

• Label

PST: QBR's Barton suspended, very suspended

PST's MLS rankings: Red Bulls an odd bunch

FIFA doctors ask for changes to headscarf design

Referee Webb urges players not to fake injury

Chivas USA, Red Bulls battle to 1-1 tie

Crew shut out Sounders, 2-0

Earthquakes top Galaxy in stoppage time

Fire rallies to beat FC Dallas

Toronto FC wins Canadian Championship

Bayern chairman: Fans sorry for booing Robben