1. Headbutting Marco Materazzi In The World Cup Final
The 2006 World Cup started so well for Zidane. He had retired from international football after Euro 2004, but came back for one last job. Some amazing performances helped drag France to the final and make up for the ignominy of their 2002 exit. Before the final against Italy, Zidane had already been named the tournament's best player and announced that the game would be his last. Seven minutes in and he had found the back of the net. Zidane's goal from a penalty to become only the fourth player in history to score in two World Cup finals. Italy defender Marco Materazzi levelled the scores a 1-1, heading in a Pirlo corner. Zidane and Materazzi were both on the scoresheet, but their involvement was not finished. In extra time, the fuse that Materazzi's match-long goading of his opponent had lit suddenly exploded: Zidane's head came into violent contact with the chest of the Inter defender. Materazzi was on the floor and soon enough Zidane was in the dressing room. A red card in his final professional game, on the world's biggest stage. He couldn't help France in the eventual penalty shoot-out, and Italy were world champions while Zidane looked on, helpless.
David is an office drone and freelance writer for WhatCulture and Moviepilot, among others. He's also foolishly writing a serialised novel on Jukepop and has his own irregularly updated website. He's available for freelance work. Reach out on Twitter to @davefox990
