Marco Materazzi, the former Everton defender, has finally confirmed exactly what he said to Zinedine Zidane that prompted the French legend to headbutt him during the 2006 World Cup final. In an interview with AS in 2020, Materazzi revealed that he insulted Zidane's sister, not his mother as widely speculated, after a series of clashes in the penalty area.
The Infamous Incident
The incident occurred in extra time of the final in Berlin's Olympic Stadium, with the score tied at 1-1. Zidane, who had already been named player of the tournament, was sent off after headbutting Materazzi in the chest. Without their talisman, France lost the penalty shootout 5-3, with David Trezeguet hitting the crossbar. Materazzi scored Italy's second penalty in the shootout.
What Was Actually Said
Materazzi explained the exchange: "After the third clash, I frowned and he retorted: 'I'll give you my shirt later.' I replied that I'd rather have his sister than his shirt." He added, "My words were stupid but did not deserve that reaction. In any neighbourhood of Rome, Naples, Turin, Milan, Paris, I hear much more serious things." Materazzi won a libel case in 2009 after suggestions he had insulted Zidane's mother, stating, "My mother died while I was a teenager, I would never insult his."
Materazzi's Night in the Final
Materazzi had a busy evening: he conceded a penalty for a foul on Florent Malouda after just seven minutes, allowing Zidane to open the scoring. However, he equalised with a header from an Andrea Pirlo corner in the 19th minute. He also kept his composure to score in the shootout. The defender, who spent one season at Everton in 1998 after a £2.8 million transfer, was an unlikely hero but remains the only Everton player to score in a World Cup final.
Context of the Match
Italy had won the tournament after a dramatic campaign. Materazzi, initially on the bench, replaced the injured Alessandro Nesta in the group stage and scored against the Czech Republic. He was sent off against Australia in the second round but returned for the semi-final against Germany. The final was the first World Cup final since 1986 where both teams scored.
Materazzi later reflected: "I wasn't expecting it in that moment. I was lucky enough that the whole episode took me by surprise because if I had expected something like that to happen and had been ready for it, I'm sure both of us would have ended up being sent off."
