Anelka, who added his name to the list of players sent home from the biggest stage of all, featuring Diego Maradona and Roy Keane, had come to South Africa to play his first World Cup, at 31.
Once hailed as France's equivalent of Brazil great Ronaldo, Nicolas Anelka largely wasted his unique talent because of his hot temper and will now be remembered as one of the World Cup''s famous misfits.
Anelka, who added his name to the list of players sent home from the biggest stage of all, featuring Diego Maradona and Roy Keane, had come to South Africa to play his first World Cup, at 31.
Many predicted the gifted but erratic striker would show off his rare skills on the pitches of South Africa.
Instead he left in disgrace on Saturday, kicked out of the tournament for having insulted Raymond Domenech after the France coach criticised his attitude on the pitch and took him off at halftime of a 2-0 defeat by Mexico in Polokwane on Thursday.
Anelka, who shone only on occasions during a turbulent career spanning over a decade, burst into the limelight as a 19-year-old with two stunning goals in a 2-0 win over England at Wembley in February 1999.
"We have found our Ronaldo," France captain Didier Deschamps said that night.
Anelka's ride, however, was never as smooth as that of the two other great French strikers of his generation, David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry.
Sometimes brilliant at club level, notably during his spell at Arsenal and lately with Chelsea, the much-travelled Anelka never stayed long enough at a side to really make his mark, unlike Trezeguet at Juventus or Henry at Arsenal.
His rough manner -- he grew up in the rough Paris suburb of Trappes -- meant he often fell out with his coaches or presidents and had to pack his bags.
Missed penalty
Always an artist and never really a team player, he was often disappointing on the pitch as well, despite an ability that could have made him a truly great footballer.
He also built a reputation for lacking composure when it mattered, notably missing a penalty in Chelsea's shootout defeat by Manchester United in the 2008 Champions League final.
Both elegant and powerful, the tall, shaven-headed player has always been exciting to watch, if not always that efficient.
He did at least play a key role in helping Chelsea claim a domestic league and cup double last season.
What Anelka never managed to do is make an impact with the France team, scoring a paltry 14 goals from 71 appearances and sometimes giving the impression he did not really care.
That was the case in 2003, when he refused a call-up by then coach Jacques Santini, and of course again here in South Africa, where he looked lightweight in France's two matches so far, prompting many observers to say Henry should have played instead.
By insulting Domenech, Anelka emulated former French enfant terrible Eric Cantona, who had called national team coach Henri Michel a "scumbag" in 1988 and did not play for France for months as a result.
France captain Patrice Evra said, however, that it would be too simple to categorise Anelka as just a rebel with no respect for his country's colours.
"It's hurting him to have to leave us because he loves that France team," Evra said after Saturday's news.
"Those who don't know him say he is a bad boy and everything but I know him well and he's not like that at all. He's a very gentle person."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}