Zinedine Zidane again proved Brazil's nemesis with a masterly display to inspire France to a commanding 1-0 win to end the world champions' bid for a sixth World Cup title here onSaturday.
In a performance that showcased his ageing yet still prodigious talents, the 34-year-old Zidane ran the show and along with rock-solid Patrick Vieira blunted Brazil's attempts at winning the midfield battle.
Brazil, who struggled to find rhythm throughout the World Cup, increasingly became more desperate as Zidane skilfully orchestrated Les Blues with his trademark flicks, mesmerising footwork and languid passing.
'Zizou' was acclaimed official man-of-the-match and received a standing ovation from the majority of the 48,000 full house as he left the arena with his team-mates joyously celebrating their great win in front of their blue-shirted fans.
The Brazilians will have nightmares when they finally go to bed early Sunday of Zidane, whose two goals lifted France to a stunning 3-0 win in the 1998 final in Paris.
Eight years on and to quit international football after the World Cup, Zidane again reminded the Brazilians off his phenomenal range of skills and trickery.
In the days leading up to the Frankfurt quarter-final, German football legend Franz Beckenbauer declared that Zidane was one of the greatest players of all-time and he left few doubters after his virtuoso performance Saturday.
Indeed Beckenbauer queried after this virtuoso performance why he was hanging up his boots.
"I would like to know why he wants to stop when he is as good now as he was four years ago.
"If he plays this well, he should carry on," said the 60-year-old German great.
For Brazilian great Pele there was unprecedented praise for Zidane.
"Zidane was the magician."
A second World Cup final remains in Zidane's sights as the French gear up to take on Portugal in Wednesday's semi-final in Munich.
Les Bleus have bounced back spectacularly after an undistinguished start to the tournament with two opening draws, but their campaign took off with another Zidane five-star performance in the 3-1 second round win over the previously-unbeaten Spain.
Zidane was seen at his best with a wonderful dribbling cameo in the opening minute, waltzing away from a couple of defenders and it was his free kick that led to the winning goal by Thierry Henry in the 57th minute.
Zidane floated over his free kick from the left and found Henry unmarked on the far post for the Arsenal superstar to tuck it away into the roof of the net with goalkeeper Dida well beaten.
It was also Zidane who sent Vieira careering up field just minutes before halftime only for the Juventus midfielder to be hacked down by Juan, who was fortunate to only receive a yellow card instead of red.
Zidane stayed on the field for the full 90 minutes but he was flagging at the end, yet his presence was the guiding light for his French team-mates to see out Brazil's furious late attacks to push the game into extra time.
With Brazil now out of the tournament, no South American team has won a World Cup in Europe since young Pele's Brazilians won in Sweden in 1958.
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