Former Italy star Marco Materazzi has finally opened about Zinedine Zidane's headbutt on him at the 2006 World Cup final.
The pair's altercation 17 years ago is still remembered as one of the most iconic moments in football history with French icon Zidane had his moment of madness on the biggest stage of them all.
To this day, the words exchanged between both stars have been shrouded in secrecy, despite rumours suggesting Materazzi issued an insult towards Zidane about his mother Malika.
However, Zidane told French publication L'Equipe that the former Everton and Inter Milan defender did not say anything about his mother.
"He provoked me by talking about my sister Lila," Zidane said.
"I'm not proud of it, but it's part of my career. At that time, I was more fragile. He didn't insult my mother, but he did insult my sister."
Materazzi has also spoken of the incident explaining what sparked the headbutt from the Frenchman.
"You know the NBA? Trash talking – my trash talking nothing, very minimal, nothing," he told Italian Football TV.
Most read in Football
“Zidane offered me his jersey, I said no I prefer his sister”
- Marco Materazzi on what was really said before he got headbutted pic.twitter.com/0XlVrgeJso
— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) April 7, 2023
"He offered me his jersey, I say, "No, I prefer your sister'".
Zidane, who won the World Cup in 1998, scored an audacious Panenka penalty to put France ahead in the match, with Materazzi scoring Italy's equaliser later in the first half.
The former Real Madrid star was sent off in extra time for the headbutt. The Azzurri then secured victory on penalties, with Zidane later retiring after the tournament.
ncG1vNJzZmiskaG4tLzOq6tnm5%2BifKe7zq2ZmqScZH50hY9ybXFnnZa%2FpLuMppitnaKWx7u1jLOgp52Unrumedmim5qmlWK1pq3Dm6ytrF2svLO4w2aarqhf