World Cup winner opens up on shock health battle with rare illness – as the former Bayern Munich star admits ‘I am sick’ and reveals how his actress wife supports him

Legendary France left back Bixente Lizarazu has opened up on his battle with bigorexia.

Lizarazu, 54, enjoyed a trophy-laden career for the likes of Bayern Munich, Marseille, Bordeaux and Athletic Bilbao.

The defender was also part of the France side that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 and Lizarazu earned 97 caps for Les Bleus before he retired from football in 2006.

However, the 54-year-old revealed that he suffers with bigorexia, a rare mental illness that compels people to exercise too much and be obsessed with building muscle on their body.

Bigorexia, which is also known as muscle dysmorphia, makes those who suffer with it think their bodies are too small and not muscular enough. 

Sufferers also often only eat foods that they believe will boost their muscles and the condition can cause depression, suicidal thoughts and steroid misuse if it is left untreated.

Lizarazu (L) won the 1998 World Cup and he was also in France’s team when they won Euro 2000

The 54-year-old (R), who now works as a pundit, revealed the impact the disease has on his life

Since retiring, Lizarazu has had an extremely active lifestyle where he has become involved in surfing, jiu-jitsu, cycling and other sports.

In fact, Lizarazu became a European jiu-jitsu champion in the Blue Belt Senior 1 Light Division in 2009.

Speaking to French media, the 95-cap star explained more about the illness and how it impacts his lifestyle.

‘I am sick,’ he said. ‘I am 54-years-old now, but I still have to feel like a professional athlete even now.

‘Physical exercise is my passion and it does me good. It has been my compass throughout my life and has helped me find my balance.

‘But I have bigorexia. It’s fair to say I exercise to excess.’

Lizarazu also went onto discuss how he attempts to deal with the illness to limit the impact it has on his day-to-day life.

‘Anyone with the condition who stops training from one day to the next risks falling into depression,’ he explained.

Lizarazu (pictured right, with Zinedine Zidane at Euro 2004) admitted that he is ‘sick’ 

Lizarazu also explained how his wife, actress Claire Keim, helps to support him with the illness

The 54-year-old did admit that his sickness was ‘preferable to other forms of addiction’ though

‘I need to work hard, wear myself out and release the entire mass of energy I have within myself.

‘But this sickness is preferable to other forms of addiction. I just have to know how to manage it.’

Lizarazu similarly explained how his partner, actress Claire Keim – who he has been with since 2006 and has two children with – has supported him through his troubles.

He added: ‘She met me while I was still a footballer, so luckily she accepts my addiction to sport.

‘Even though it is healthy, it takes up a lot of time.’

Lizarazu broke onto scene as a teenager with Bordeaux before he earned moves to Athletic Bilbao and Bayern Munich following eight impressive seasons with the French side.

He won 14 trophies across two spells with the German giants, including six Bundesliga titles, with the second coming after a short stint at Marseille.

Lizarazu added five German Cups, two Confederations Cups and a Champions League trophy to his glittering list of honours and he has regularly worked as pundit for French TV and radio since retiring.