In the 110th minute of the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin, Zinedine Zidane turned around and headbutted Marco Materazzi in the chest. Zidane was sent off in the last match of his career, and Italy went on to beat France on penalties. For months people argued about what Materazzi had said. Both players eventually explained it, and the short version is this: Materazzi insulted Zidane’s sister.
The exchange, as both players described it
- Materazzi was marking Zidane closely and tugging at his shirt.
- Zidane told him, roughly, that if he wanted the shirt he could have it after the match.
- Materazzi replied, in Italian, that he would rather have Zidane’s sister, using a crude word for her.
- Zidane walked a few steps, turned back and headbutted him.
Materazzi confirmed the sister remark in interviews, and in 2007 he published a book about the phrases people suggested he might have used. He has consistently denied insulting Zidane’s mother or making racist or religious remarks, which were among the rumors at the time.
What Zidane said afterward
In a French TV interview days after the final, Zidane apologized to children who had watched, but said he did not regret reacting to insults about his mother and sister, which he described as very hard to hear. Years later he said he would rather die than apologize to Materazzi, while admitting the headbutt was not something he was proud of.
How the referee saw it
Referee Horacio Elizondo did not see the headbutt himself. He was told about it through his officials’ communication system, then showed Zidane a straight red card. There was no VAR in 2006.
What happened next
- The match finished 1-1 after extra time. Zidane had scored an early penalty and Materazzi had equalized with a header.
- Italy won the shootout 5-3. France’s David Trezeguet hit the crossbar.
- Zidane still won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
- FIFA later fined Zidane and banned him for three matches, which he served as community work since he had retired. Materazzi was fined and banned for two matches.
Why the moment still matters
The headbutt became one of the most famous images in sports: one of the greatest players ever ending his career by walking past the World Cup trophy on his way off the field. It inspired songs, a large bronze statue shown outside the Pompidou Centre in Paris, and endless debate about provocation and responsibility.
Timeline of the incident
| Moment | What happened |
|---|---|
| 9 July 2006 | France and Italy meet in the World Cup final in Berlin |
| 7th minute | Zidane scores a penalty for France |
| 19th minute | Materazzi heads in the equaliser for Italy |
| Extra time, about 110 minutes | After a short exchange of words, Zidane headbutts Materazzi in the chest |
| Moments later | Referee Horacio Elizondo sends Zidane off after being alerted by his fellow officials |
| Penalty shoot-out | Italy wins 5-3 after the match ends 1-1 |
How FIFA punished both players
After investigating, FIFA’s disciplinary committee sanctioned both players. Zidane received a three-match ban and a fine, and because he had retired, he agreed to do community work with children instead of serving the ban. Materazzi received a two-match ban and a smaller fine for the words that provoked the headbutt. Zidane still won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, a vote taken by journalists before the final ended.
Why it remains one of football’s most famous moments
- It was Zidane’s final match. One of the greatest players of his generation ended his career with a red card in a World Cup final.
- It showed the power of provocation. Coaches still use the incident to teach players how to handle verbal abuse.
- It changed how officials used communication. The send-off became a widely discussed example of match officials sharing information about incidents the referee did not see directly.
- It became part of popular culture. The image inspired art, songs and endless debate about what was said.
What players can learn from it
Referees punish the reaction they see, not the words that caused it. The lesson for young players is simple: walk away, tell the referee or your captain, and let officials deal with abuse. A moment of retaliation can cost a team far more than any insult.
The 2006 final in numbers
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Date and venue | 9 July 2006, Olympiastadion, Berlin |
| Score after extra time | France 1-1 Italy |
| France goal | Zidane, a chipped penalty in the 7th minute |
| Italy goal | Materazzi, a header from a corner in the 19th minute |
| Red card | Zidane, 110th minute, for the headbutt |
| Penalty shootout | Italy won 5-3; David Trezeguet’s kick hit the crossbar |
| Referee | Horacio Elizondo of Argentina |
Zidane’s career before Berlin
The headbutt shocked people partly because of who Zidane was. He had scored twice with headers in the 1998 World Cup final as France beat Brazil 3-0 in Paris, helped France win Euro 2000, and scored a famous volley for Real Madrid in the 2002 Champions League final. He had retired from international football after Euro 2004 but returned in 2005 to help France qualify for the 2006 World Cup. His performances in Germany, especially against Spain, Brazil and Portugal, were among the best of the tournament, and he was named winner of the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player even after his red card.
Materazzi’s side of the story
Materazzi was a tough, experienced defender who had also scored in the final. In later interviews he gave his own account of the exchange and denied insulting Zidane’s mother. He later described the words in a book and in several interviews, saying the insult was about Zidane’s sister. For many Italian fans, he remains a World Cup winner first and the other half of the incident second.
How the moment is remembered
The headbutt has been replayed, discussed and referenced for years. A large bronze sculpture of the moment, “Coup de tête” by the artist Adel Abdessemed, was displayed outside the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 2012 and later exhibited elsewhere. The image of Zidane walking past the World Cup trophy on his way off the pitch remains one of the most famous photographs in football.
Frequently asked questions
What did Materazzi say to Zidane?
According to Materazzi himself, he insulted Zidane’s sister after Zidane offered him his shirt.
Did Materazzi insult Zidane’s mother?
Materazzi has always denied it. Zidane said he heard insults about his mother and sister.
Did Zidane apologize?
In a French television interview a few days after the final, Zidane apologised to viewers, especially children who had watched, but said he did not regret his reaction and did not apologise to Materazzi. Italy went on to win the match 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
