Zidane's final game: a Panenka, a headbutt and a red card in Berlin

📰 It began with a Panenka penalty and ended with a headbutt: Zinedine Zidane's last game as a player. 📌 Key points 🏟️ France met Italy in the final at Berlin's Olympiastadion on 9 July 2006. ⚽ Zidane's 7th-minute Panenka penalty was cancelled out by Materazzi's 19th-minute header. 🟥 Zidane headbutted Materazzi in the chest in extra time and was sent off on 110 minutes. 🏆 Italy won the shoot-out 5-3 to lift the trophy. 🥇 Despite the red card, Zidane won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. 📝 What happened ⚽ Zidane had announced before the tournament that he would retire afterwards. In the 7th minute he chipped a penalty Panenka-style over Gianluigi Buffon; it hit the bar and dropped over the line. Italy hit back on 19 minutes when Marco Materazzi headed in Andrea Pirlo's corner. ⏱️ It stayed 1-1 into extra time. After an exchange of words, Zidane turned and drove his head into Materazzi's chest. Referee Horacio Elizondo had not seen it, but was alerted by the fourth official over his headset, and Zidane was shown red on 110 minutes. 🏆 In the shoot-out David Trezeguet hit the bar for France, while Italy scored all five, Fabio Grosso converting the winner for a 5-3 victory and Italy's fourth World Cup. 🥇 Zidane was still awarded the Golden Ball the following day. It was the last game of a playing career that had taken him to Real Madrid in 2001. French opinion was forgiving: in one poll, 61% said they had already forgiven him and 52% said they understood his actions. 📊 By the numbers • Final score: 1-1 (Italy won 5-3 on penalties) • Goals: Zidane 7' (pen), Materazzi 19' • Zidane sent off: 110th minute • Attendance: 69,000 🔭 Why it matters The headbutt remains one of the most famous moments in World Cup history, made more dramatic by the fact that both goalscorers were at the centre of it. Fans still argue over whether it was an understandable reaction to provocation or inexcusable whatever was said.