Category: People
Key figures: Zinedine Zidane (France captain and playmaker), Marco Materazzi (Italy defender), Horacio Elizondo (referee)
Summary
Zinedine Zidane’s 2006 marked the close of one of football’s most decorated careers. Born on May 23, 1972, in Marseille’s La Castellane district, Zidane had become the most technically celebrated midfielder of his generation, winning the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with France. After coming out of international retirement, he captained France to the 2006 FIFA World Cup final in Berlin. In the 110th minute of extra time on July 9, 2006 — the final match of his career — he was sent off for headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi, an incident that became one of the most-discussed images in the sport’s history. Italy won the final on penalties, and Zidane retired from professional football at the tournament’s conclusion.
Career at Real Madrid (2001–2006)
Zidane joined Real Madrid from Juventus in July 2001 for a then-world-record transfer fee of approximately €77.5 million. Over five seasons he made 155 La Liga appearances for the club and won the 2002–03 La Liga title. His most celebrated moment came in the 2002 UEFA Champions League final, when he scored a left-foot volley to defeat Bayer Leverkusen 2–1 at Hampden Park, Glasgow. His final club season (2005–06) ended without a trophy — Barcelona took both La Liga and the Champions League that year — but Zidane produced several of the technically refined performances that defined his reputation before declining renewed contracts to retire.
The 2006 World Cup Run
France’s 2006 World Cup campaign followed a redemptive arc after a slow start. The team laboured through the group stage — two goalless draws before a win over Togo, a match Zidane missed through suspension — then improved sharply in the knockout rounds. Zidane scored France’s third goal in a 3–1 win over Spain in the round of 16 (June 27). In the quarterfinal against Brazil (July 1) France won 1–0; Thierry Henry scored the winner from a Zidane free kick, and Zidane was named man of the match. In the semifinal against Portugal (July 5) he converted the penalty in a 1–0 win. The final against Italy on July 9, 2006, at Berlin’s Olympiastadion drew roughly 69,000 spectators. Zidane opened the scoring with a Panenka-style penalty chip in the 7th minute; Materazzi equalized with a header in the 19th minute.
The Headbutt Incident
In the 110th minute of extra time, following a verbal exchange with Materazzi, Zidane turned and headbutted the Italian defender in the chest. Referee Horacio Elizondo of Argentina, alerted by the fourth official, issued a red card. Materazzi later acknowledged making a provocative remark about a member of Zidane’s family; Zidane called the headbutt “inexcusable” in a subsequent television interview but declined to retract it given what was said. Italy won the final 5–3 on penalties (1–1 after extra time), with David Trezeguet striking the crossbar for the only miss of the shootout. Zidane, already dismissed, could not participate.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee subsequently sanctioned both players: Zidane received a three-match ban — which he served as community service, having already retired — and Materazzi a two-match ban, each accompanied by a fine.
Despite the expulsion, Zidane was voted the tournament’s best player, receiving the Golden Ball — a vote that had largely concluded before the final and reflected his performances across the tournament.
Retirement and Legacy
Zidane had announced before the tournament that he would retire at its conclusion, making the final his last professional match. His career honours included the 1998 Ballon d’Or, three FIFA World Player of the Year awards (1998, 2000, 2003), the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with France, two Serie A titles with Juventus (1996–97, 1997–98), and the 2002–03 La Liga title with Real Madrid. He won 108 caps and scored 31 goals for France.
The headbutt remained a lasting reference point in discussions of the tournament, frequently cited as a study in how a single dramatic moment can shape how a career is remembered.
Significance
Zidane’s exit crystallized a contrast that had followed him throughout his career: unmatched technical elegance alongside occasional on-field volatility. His Real Madrid years and the 2006 World Cup run — leading France to the final at age 34 — underscored his standing among the game’s most influential midfielders, even as the final’s closing minutes prompted debate about provocation and sportsmanship. His 2006 sat alongside other individual peaks that defined the sporting year, including Roger Federer’s dominant tennis season and the 2006 FIFA World Cup final in which his career ended.
Sources
- Zinedine Zidane — Wikipedia — career overview, honours, and the 2006 World Cup and headbutt.
- 2006 FIFA World Cup Final — Wikipedia — match details, red card, Materazzi provocation, and penalty shootout.
- Zinedine Zidane — Britannica — biography, France career, and 2006 retirement.