The World Cup returns this year in a spectacular fashion. Qatar is hosting the event for the first time, and the competition will be held in December to combat the nation’s climate. There is a lot of history involved with this competition, and former Italy international Marco Materazzi might just have the most famous one of them all.

His club career was incredibly successful as he won the Serie A for five years in a row until 2010. Moreover, he won the treble under Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan in 2010. However, all these accomplishments would fade in comparison to his heroics in the World Cup in 2006.

Materazzi’s World Cup campaign

The Italian wasn’t supposed to start any matches in the World Cup, but an injury to legendary center-back Alessandro Nesta gave him his chance. Materazzi was the man of the match in his first game of the tournament but got sent off in his next one.

Italy somehow managed to scrape through the next two rounds before reaching the final. Italy was facing a rampant French side with Zinedine Zidane at the helm. The final started in the worst manner possible as Materazzi gave away a penalty in the ninth minute, that Zidane converted.

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He did make it better when he scored a thundering header from an Andrea Pirlo corner in the 19th minute to get Italy back into the tie. However, the game then remained goalless and went to extra time, where all hell broke loose.

Zinedine Zidane vs. Marco Materazzi

In the 110th minute of the match, Zidane and Materazzi got into an altercation where he was tugging Zidane’s shirt. Some words were said and moments later Zidane headbutted Materazzi in a moment of extreme anger. The Frenchman received a straight red for his actions as Materazzi remained writhing on the ground.

Materazzi had revealed in interviews afterward that he had said something about Zidane’s sister that angered the Real Madrid legend. Italy went on to win the final on penalties later as Zidane could do nothing but watch his team lose the World Cup final.

In the end, it was Marco Materazzi who had the last laugh, and a spectacular World Cup trophy for his troubles.

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