the next Zidane?

[MB_722]

No kidding, the next Zidane?

By Martin Rogers

Haven't heard of Madin Mohammed yet? You should have.

He is the player being touted as soccer's next megastar, the new Zinedine Zidane, with a spectacular set of skills seemingly destined to propel him to greatness.

Chelsea and Real Madrid have both got him on their radar and several other big clubs are due to join to race to sign him. But don't expect to see Mohammed gracing an English Premier League or Spanish La Liga stadium just yet.

Because he is six years old.

In the latest example of the extreme lengths to which the worldwide scouting system has developed, the French youngster has been thrust into the spotlight and tipped for success before he has even mastered the alphabet.

The comparisons to Zidane are due to Mohammed's Algerian heritage, having moved to France from the North African country as a 3-year-old. Footage of his precocious talent has appeared on French television, displaying a remarkable array of tricks and flicks.

Soccer has seen plenty of child prodigies in the past, and most of them have fallen by the wayside. The glare of the spotlight at such a young age is devilishly difficult to cope with and, unless young Madin is well-protected by his family and the French national federation, his chances of even reaching the professional ranks are remote.

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/sow/blog/sow_experts/post/No-kidding-the-next-Zidane-?urn=sow,143082

this Kid is amazing

[divcom]

there are like 20 kids on youtube like him.  by his teens tons of kids will catch up to him.

[Fatpanda]

No kidding, the next Zidane?

By Martin Rogers

Haven't heard of Madin Mohammed yet? You should have.

He is the player being touted as soccer's next megastar, the new Zinedine Zidane, with a spectacular set of skills seemingly destined to propel him to greatness.

Chelsea and Real Madrid have both got him on their radar and several other big clubs are due to join to race to sign him. But don't expect to see Mohammed gracing an English Premier League or Spanish La Liga stadium just yet.

Because he is six years old.

In the latest example of the extreme lengths to which the worldwide scouting system has developed, the French youngster has been thrust into the spotlight and tipped for success before he has even mastered the alphabet.

The comparisons to Zidane are due to Mohammed's Algerian heritage, having moved to France from the North African country as a 3-year-old. Footage of his precocious talent has appeared on French television, displaying a remarkable array of tricks and flicks.

Soccer has seen plenty of child prodigies in the past, and most of them have fallen by the wayside. The glare of the spotlight at such a young age is devilishly difficult to cope with and, unless young Madin is well-protected by his family and the French national federation, his chances of even reaching the professional ranks are remote.

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/sow/blog/sow_experts/post/No-kidding-the-next-Zidane-?urn=sow,143082

this Kid is amazing

looking at that vid he has every trick in football - if he can keep progressing and add speed to his running - he will be outstanding.

zidane was a different player though. although zidane could do the odd trick, his real strength was his ability to hold the ball, pick a pass and read the game - footballing gifts that you can't completely learn from good coaching, they must come from your mind.

[Nordic Superman]

there are like 20 kids on youtube like him.  by his teens tons of kids will catch up to him.

Exactly...

Looking good against other 8 year olds is a lot easier that looking good at the Pro level. Not saying the kid isn't great, but the actual fact of being that good at such a young age might create the Michael Jackson effect where his parents push him too hard and he cracks.

And as above said, players like Ronaldo, Kaka, Zidane etc... have the skills along with other abilities which don't even come apparent until you play real competitive matches.

[Andy Griffin]

I thought for sure that the video was going to show him headbutting some other kid in the chest.