Each month Westminster Journal will be adding an individual to its GEMs section. GEM stands for Great European Muslim. This individual will be recommended by Editorial process. Any submissions would be welcomed - simply send through details of the GEM you wish to recommend and give the reasons why you feel they deserve their place.

Zinedine Yazid Zidane, born 23 June 1972 in Marseille, is a French former professional footballer of Algerian Kabyle Berber descent. Very few footballers in recent times have enjoyed as much success or as much critical acclaim as Zinedine Zidane.

On a personal level - now he is retired from top grade football -  the dream year of 1998 will remain forever hard to beat.

However Zidane has not always felt as loved in his own country land. Born the son of an Algerian nightwatchman, Zidane was raised in a tough district in Marseilles. As a devout Muslim and the son of an African immigrant, Zidane often endured racism and hostility from local inhabitants during his childhood.

Even as a successful footballer, he struggled to secure widespread acceptance from the French public.

Following the national team's disappointingly early exit from the Euro '96 tournament, there was still a depressing tendency amongst football fans to question the commitment of the players referred to as 'the coloureds'. However the triumph of the team termed the 'rainbow nation' sparked scenes of unprecedented national partying that many saw as a celebration of both the team's footballing achievements and their diverse make-up.

Zidane himself has his own simple explanation for his personal success: 'my father is wonderful. He taught me that if you are respectful to everyone you will earn respect’. This axiom is reflected in his charity and social work:

On 24 February 2007, before a crowd of 10,000 fans at a match in northern Thailand for the Keuydaroon children's AIDS charity, Zidane scored the first goal and set up the second for a Malaysian teammate as the match ended 2-2. The event raised ฿260,000 ($7,750). On 19 November 2007, Zidane took part in the fifth annual Match Against Poverty in Malaga, Spain, which also ended in a 2-2 draw; Zidane went scoreless, but set up his team’s second goal in the 70th minute. He and former Real Madrid teammate Ronaldo, who collaborated in conceiving the yearly event to benefit the United Nations Development Programme, regularly captain their respective teams consisting of active footballers, other professional athletes and celebrities. Zidane, a U.N. goodwill ambassador since 2001, stated before the game that “everyone can do something to make the world a better place.”

Without doubt, Zinedine Zidane is a Great European and he also happens to be a Muslim.

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