Zinedine Zidane's international career ended in the 109th minute of the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin. The French midfielder, widely considered one of the greatest to ever play the game, delivered a headbutt to Marco Materazzi's chest. Red card. Italy won 5-3 on penalties.
The incident happened near the penalty area. Zidane and the Italian defender exchanged words, then Zidane spun and delivered the blow that sent the taller Materazzi sprawling. Official Luis Medina Cantalejo confirmed what he had seen to head referee Horacio Elizondo. The 34-year-old was forced to watch from the sidelines as the match went to a penalty shootout, with both teams tied at one goal each—scored by Zidane and Materazzi themselves.
Weeks later, The Daily Mail, Daily Star, and The Sun all reported that Materazzi had hurled racist abuse at Zidane about his mother. The Italian sued for libel, denying the allegations entirely and pointing out his own mother had passed when he was 15. All three outlets apologized and admitted they were wrong. The Daily Mail paid undisclosed damages.
According to Materazzi, after he grabbed Zidane's chest during defense, the Frenchman taunted: "If you want my shirt, you can have it after the game." Materazzi's response was: "I'd rather have his sister." A crude jab—but not what the tabloids had claimed.
