Zinedine Zidane put a new meaning on header in the last game of his international career.
As a lifelong follower of the beautiful game, I still remember where I was when it happened. It was 2006, and Zinedine Zidane – or ‘Zizou’ as we affectionately called him, because let’s be real, he was a legend – was on the verge of another World Cup victory. He was truly one of the greatest players ever, and then, in a single, heartbreaking moment, everything changed.
In the 109th minute of the Champions League final against Italy, after having previously helped his team take the lead, the midfielder and Italian defender Marco Materazzi seemed to be joking with each other. Suddenly, Zidane unexpectedly turned and headbutted Materazzi in the chest, knocking him to the ground.
Despite the confusion on the field, the linesman, Luis Medina Cantalejo, told the head referee, Horacio Elizondo, that he clearly saw the headbutt happen.
With no other options available, Elizondo showed Zidane a red card, resulting in his ejection from the game. Zidane had already announced his retirement at the end of the year.
At 34 years old, he could only watch helplessly as the game went to a penalty shootout. After extra time, the score remained tied at one goal each, with Zidane and Materazzi having ironically scored those very goals.
Well, Italy took the win in the end! They scored five penalty kicks to their opponent’s three. And you know what? Materazzi actually sealed the deal with one of those crucial goals – a real game-changer!
In the end, all three news sources acknowledged their mistakes and issued apologies for their stories. Additionally, The Daily Mail had to pay an undisclosed amount of money to the soccer player as compensation.
As for what Materazzi, then 32, did say on the pitch, one of Zidane’s family members was involved.
As they left the penalty area—where Materazzi had just pulled Zidane’s shirt during a goalmouth scramble—Zidane reportedly said to the Italian, “You can have my shirt after the match if you want it.”
As shocking as it was to see Zidane’s career end so abruptly with that headbutt, the real story was just unfolding. In the weeks that followed, things really escalated when The Daily Mail reported that Materazzi had actually been making deeply offensive, racist comments about Zidane’s mother. It turned a dramatic moment into something far more serious and upsetting, and honestly, it changed how everyone viewed the whole incident.
The Italian athlete filed a libel lawsuit against the publication, as well as the Daily Star and The Sun, which had also reported the quotes, stating he never made the comment attributed to him regarding Zidane.
Marco Materazzi, who lost his own mother at a young age, stated he would never intentionally say anything hurtful about another person’s mother.
In 2010, Marco Materazzi and Zinedine Zidane unexpectedly ran into each other in a parking lot in Milan and resolved their famous feud, an event later immortalized in a bronze sculpture by artist Adel Abdessemed.
As for what was shared between them, Materazzi told The Athletic, “What was said stays between us.”
Despite everything, they ended the discussion with a classic gesture of respect: a handshake.
In the end, all three news sources acknowledged their mistakes and issued apologies for their stories. The Daily Mail also had to pay an undisclosed amount of money to the soccer player as compensation.
As for what Materazzi, then 32, did say on the pitch, one of Zidane’s family members was involved.
The Italian player said that as he and Zidane left the penalty box – where Materazzi had just pushed Zidane in the chest while defending – Zidane jokingly offered, “If you want my jersey, you can have it after the match.”
In response, Materazzi quipped that he’d “rather have his sister.”
The comment deeply affected Zidane, especially because his sister, Lila Zidane, was already dealing with the stress of caring for their sick mother.
In a 2022 interview with L’Equipe, Zidane explained that his opponent never spoke to him about his mother. However, the opponent did make an insulting remark about Zidane’s sister, who was with his mother at the time. While Zidane acknowledged that harsh words are sometimes exchanged during a game, he felt this particular incident was different. He said the comment about his sister was what really provoked a reaction from him.
As he put it, “It was only a second. Then it was over.”
In 2010, Marco Materazzi and Zinedine Zidane, whose infamous clash was immortalized in a sculpture by artist Adel Abdessemed, unexpectedly ran into each other in Milan and resolved their differences.
As for what was shared between them, Materazzi told The Athletic, “What was said stays between us.”
Despite everything, they ended the discussion with a classic gesture of respect: a handshake.
As for the men representing the U.S. at this year’s World Cup, read on.
Position: Forward
Age: 27
Height: 5’ 10”
Hometown: Hershey, Pa.
Current Soccer Club: AC Milan (Italy)
Weston McKennie is a 28-year-old midfielder who stands 6’1” tall. He’s originally from Little Elm, Texas and currently plays for Juventus in Italy.
As a lifestyle expert, I’m always fascinated by rising stars, and this young athlete is definitely one to watch! He’s a 23-year-old midfielder, standing at a solid 6’1”. Originally from Bedford, New York, he’s currently making waves playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany – a fantastic move for his career, and a testament to his dedication.
This 27-year-old midfielder from Wappingers Falls, New York, currently plays for AFC Bournemouth in England. He is 5 feet 9 inches tall.
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 22
Height: 6’ 3”
Hometown: Naperville, Ill.
Current Soccer Club: Chicago Fire
Position: Defender
Age: 25
Height: 6’ 1”
Hometown: Fresno, Calif.
Current Soccer Club: Columbus Crew
A 25-year-old defender from Almere, Netherlands, currently playing for PSV Eindhoven. He is 5 feet 8 inches tall.
A 21-year-old defender from Plantation, Florida, currently plays for Villarreal CF in Spain. He stands 6 feet 2 inches tall.
Position: Defender
Age: 27
Height: 6’ 0”
Hometown: Bear, Del.
Current Soccer Club: Toulouse FC (France)
Position: Defender
Age: 38
Height: 6’ 1”
Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.
Current Soccer Club: Charlotte FC
This 26-year-old defender from Birmingham, Alabama, currently plays for Crystal Palace in England. He stands 6 feet 2 inches tall.
This player is a 29-year-old defender who is 6 feet tall. He’s originally from Liverpool, England and currently plays for Fulham, an English soccer club.
Position: Defender
Age: 29
Height: 6’ 2”
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.
Current Soccer Club: FC Cincinnati
A 23-year-old defender from Lake Grove, New York, currently plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany. He is 6 feet tall.
Position: Defender
Age: 27
Height: 6’ 3”
Hometown: Media, Pa.
Current Soccer Club: Celtic FC (Scotland)
This 25-year-old midfielder from London, England currently plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Canada. He is 5 feet 9 inches tall.
Okay, so let me tell you about my absolute favorite player! He’s a midfielder, and honestly, at 31, he’s still at the top of his game. He’s not the tallest guy, around 5’8″, but he’s so quick and skillful it doesn’t even matter! I was SO excited to find out he’s from Pico Rivera, California – a local hero! And the best part? He currently plays for the Seattle Sounders FC, which means I get to watch him play! Seriously, he’s incredible.
A 24-year-old midfielder from Furth, Germany, currently plays for Leverkusen in Germany. He stands 6 feet 2 inches tall.
A 25-year-old midfielder from Medford, New Jersey, currently plays for Leeds United FC in England. He is 5 feet 10 inches tall.
A 24-year-old forward from London, England, currently plays for AS Monaco FC in France. He is 5 feet 10 inches tall.
A 23-year-old forward from El Paso, Texas, currently plays for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands. He stands 6 feet 1 inch tall.
This 26-year-old forward from Brooklyn, New York, currently plays for Olympique de Marseille in France. He is 6 feet tall.
A 28-year-old forward from Los Angeles, California, currently plays for Coventry City FC in England. He is 6 feet 3 inches tall.
Okay, so let me tell you about her. She’s a forward, and honestly, at 28, she’s at the peak of her game. She’s 5’6″, which is perfect – so quick and agile! And the best part? She’s from El Paso, Texas – my hometown! I’ve been following her career for years. Right now, she’s absolutely killing it with Club America in Mexico. Seriously, she’s incredible. I can’t get enough!
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 27
Height: 6’ 3”
Hometown: Wayne, Pa.
Current Soccer Club: New York City FC
A 31-year-old goalkeeper from Park Ridge, New Jersey, currently plays for the New England Revolution. He is 6 feet 3 inches tall.
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2026-06-06 17:18