Two decades have passed, but some images continue to haunt Zinedine Zidane. One of them is, without a doubt, the headbutt he delivered to Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final in Germany between France and Italy — a moment that ultimately marked his farewell as a professional soccer player.
Now, the former French player faces Italy once again, though from a very different perspective: as coach of the French national team. Ahead of the Nations League match, Zidane spoke about that episode, which remains one of the most memorable moments in World Cup history.
“The footage always reminds me of it; they show it over and over again,” he acknowledged during a press conference. However, he also made it clear that that incident does not sum up his entire career.
“But luckily, that wasn’t the only thing I did, and there are other, more beautiful moments,” he added.
Zidane Has No Regrets About Headbutting Materazzi
The 2006 World Cup final in Germany pitted France against Italy in a match that ended in a 1-1 tie and had to be decided by a penalty shootout.
During extra time, Zidane was at the center of one of the match’s most unexpected moments. After exchanging a few words with Materazzi, the Frenchman turned around and delivered a powerful headbutt to the Italian’s chest.
The Italian defender fell to the field while the players protested what had happened. Zidane, for his part, was sent off by Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo.
Looking back on that moment, the former midfielder acknowledged that he isn’t proud of his reaction, but he doesn’t regret what happened either.
“I don’t regret anything. It’s part of my career. I’m not proud of what happened, but you can’t always do everything right,” he explained.
Zidane also recalled that, at that moment, he thought that would be the last image the public would have of him wearing the French jersey.
What led to Zidane headbutting Materazzi?
For years, the incident sparked speculation about the words exchanged between the two players before the altercation.
In 2022, Zidane explained to the sports newspaper L’Équipe that a reference to his sister Lila triggered his reaction.
“Mentioning my sister Lila triggered a reaction,” he said at the time, acknowledging that emotions can sometimes lead people to make mistakes.
Materazzi also offered his version of what happened. The Italian explained that he lightly grabbed the Frenchman’s jersey to prevent him from jumping and claimed that, after apologizing twice, the two exchanged words.
“He told me, ‘If you want my jersey, I’ll give it to you later,’ and I said something back,” recounted Materazzi, who compared the exchange to the arguments he used to have as a child while playing soccer on the beaches of Bari.
Despite the time that has passed, Zidane confirmed that he has not spoken with the former Italian defender since.
A Final That Ended With Zidane’s Farewell
The header wasn’t Zidane’s only standout moment during that final. Before his ejection, the Frenchman had put his team ahead with a Panenka-style penalty kick that beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon after hitting the crossbar.
He also came close to scoring again with a header during extra time, but Buffon prevented the goal with a great save.
After his ejection, France had to continue without their captain. Italy went on to win the title in a penalty shootout, while Zidane walked off the field with his head down, passing by the trophy he had lifted eight years earlier, when France won the 1998 World Cup.
That was the Frenchman’s final appearance as a professional soccer player.
Zidane Returns to Coach France
Zidane’s career did not end in Berlin. Years later, he began a new chapter as a coach and won major titles at the helm of Real Madrid.
His return to international soccer as France’s head coach marks a new chapter in a career that began with great success and was defined by that 2006 final.
After securing his first away victories, Zidane faces Italy once again—an opponent that inevitably brings back memories of that night in Berlin.
Two decades later, the header remains part of his story, although Zidane himself would prefer that his legacy also be remembered for the goals, the titles, and the moments that made him one of the greatest figures in world soccer.
