20 Years On: Remembering Zidane's Infamous World Cup Final Headbutt

Twenty years ago, the 2006 World Cup final between Italy and France became the stage for one of football's most controversial moments: Zinedine Zidane's infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi. The match, held at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, saw Zidane open the scoring with a penalty.

However, Italian defender Marco Materazzi quickly equalized, forcing the game into extra time. It was during this period that Zidane, playing in what would be his final professional match before retirement, reacted unexpectedly after an exchange with Materazzi. The French captain was sent off for headbutting the Italian player.

This dramatic incident overshadowed the end of Zidane's illustrious career and remains a defining, albeit contentious, memory of that World Cup. The confrontation between the two players continues to be debated and analyzed two decades later, highlighting its lasting impact on football history.