Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Real Madrid, Michael Jordan, Zinedine Zidane, Basketball, Football, Champions League
Luke Davies
Topics: Real Madrid, Michael Jordan, Zinedine Zidane, Basketball, Football, Champions League
Michael Jordan once attended a Real Madrid match alongside a fellow NBA icon who was blown away by Zinedine Zidane.
Jordan, 61, transcends sport and is one of the most recognisable athletes of all time.
His six NBA championships during a 15-season career cemented his legacy as one of the all-time greats of the NBA.
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And despite his obvious interest in basketball, he has also been spotted attending football (soccer) matches.
In September 2024, Jordan, accompanied by several family members, was spotted at the Stade Louis II for Monaco’s Champions League group phase clash with Barcelona.
The home side ran out 2-1 winners as the former Chicago Bulls star watched on from the stands.
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However, this is not the first time he has been spotted watching a La Liga side. Back in January 2002, Real Madrid played host to then-league leaders Deportivo La Coruna.
Los Blancos won 3-1 thanks to goals from Raul, Fernando Morientes and Zidane, 52.
On that occasion, Jordan perched in the director’s box at the Santiago Bernabeu, was no doubt impressed by the elegance of Zidane’s and Madrid’s performance.
But it was what was said by an NBA icon that accompanied him in the Spanish capital that summed up the greatness of the former France midfielder.
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Earvin “Magic” Johnson, flanked Jordan and declared that Zidane was as good as “Magic and Michael Jordan put together” according to reports from The Guardian.
Johnson, 65, also praised Madrid’s fans – namely the Madrid’s Ultras Sur.
“It was outstanding, incredible, wonderful,” Johnson explained.
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"I'll never forget it. The atmosphere was fabulous - I particularly liked the endzone guys ... erm, you know ... yeah, the ultras, that's it. They were just enjoying themselves so much."
"I just phoned my wife to say that I'd enjoyed a fabulous night,” he added.
And the cross-sport love-in isn’t just one way. Zidane spoke to four-time NBA Champion Tony Parker on Skweek in 2024.
The former Madrid star explained how he used to get up at “3 or 4 am” to watch Mike Tyson fight before going on to explain how Jordan was “one of the greatest athletes of all time”.