ROME, Sept 12 (AFP) - Luis Figo's virtuoso display in Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over AS Roma at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday night is a timely reminder to his team-mate Zinedine Zidane that no-one at the 'team of the century' has a divine right to be selected.

When Frenchman Zidane arrived at Real from Juventus in the summer for a world record 65 million dollars many thought he would automatically take top dog status at the Stadio Santiago Bernabeu from Portugal's Figo who had been signed for the previous world record from arch-rivals Barcelona the year
before.

Zidane is yet to shine since making his record-breaking move but was suspended for the Roma game but Figo's masterclass in Rome is a sharp reminder that the Frenchman needs to get his act together soon.

Figo scored Real's first with a magnificent freekick and set up the second on a plate for Guti but impressed throughout with superlative passing and movement and one memorable dribbling movement that almost ended in a wondergoal.

Taking the central midfield role he has had to yield to Zidane he won the plaudits of friend and foe alike. "We were very strong at the centre of midfield - it was no just Figo but he
was excellent too," said Real coach Vicente del Bosque.

The Madrid coach added quickly: "The arrival of Zidane has given us new options and made us stronger."

Roma coach Fabio Capello concurred: "They were very strong in midfield - they gave us some very difficult moments especially in the second half and we found Figo hard to handle."

Figo enjoyed himself - he could frequently be seen laughing with team-mates like Steve McManaman or Raul as del Bosque's men led Roma a merry dance.

But while Zidane will be glad to see his side step closer towards a place in the second phase he will realise that Figo's star show will only increase the demand on him to justify his record-breaking price tag sooner rather than
later.

But the Frenchman, who has won virtually everything but the Champions League, will also be aware that Figo will have the chance to make the central midfield place his own in that competition as Zidane is ruled out of most of the first round matches because of the five-match ban he earned last year when
with Juventus.

On a more serious note many questioned the decision by European football governing body to let the Champions League fixtures be played after the wave of terrorist attacks that struck the United States earlier in the day.

A sombre looking Capello said: "To me it would have been better to suspend all the matches - playing after something like that - we need some new values."