CASTROL INDEX FIFA WORLD CUP™ LEGENDS

World Cup fever gripped France in 1998, with the hosts, inspired by Zinedine Zidane, going all the way to lift the trophy. However, it was another star of Les Bleus’ triumph, defender Lilian Thuram, who comes out on top in the Castrol Index. The full-back almost single-handedly kept France in the competition, after Les Bleus went a goal down to Croatia in the quarter-finals. He netted two second-half goals in that game to win it for the hosts while overall in the competition, he created seven goal-scoring chances and won 19 of his 25 tackles.

The victorious French dominate the upper echelons of the Castrol Index, taking the top six spots, with the back four, who shipped (a record setting) two goals in the competition, taking the top four places. Zidane takes fifth while players from beaten finalists Brazil and semi-finalists Croatia and the Netherlands make up the Top 10.

Brazilian superstar Ronaldo, who made a subdued appearance in the final against France, is the highest-placed striker, coming in 11th place, while France’s highest ranked forward, Youri Djorkaeff, comes in way back in 50th place. Croatia’s Davor Suker may have ended the tournament as the top scorer with six goals, but he needed 29 shots to net those goals while his 38% shooting accuracy rate is well below the competition average, which explains his somewhat lowly 24th position in the Castrol Index.