In an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian, Italian national team goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (48 years old) admitted his responsibility for the headbutt directed by Zinedine Zidane against Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the 110th minute of the 2006 World Cup final, which was held in Berlin. He added, 20 years after this incident, saying, "I feel all forms of guilt."
Published on: 04/24/2026 - 12:50
Who does not remember the 2006 FIFA World Cup final, which brought together the Italian and French national teams in the German capital, Berlin?
In addition to the Squadra Azzurra team winning the cup on penalties (5-3) after a heated and difficult match, the whole world remembers the headbutt directed by French football legend Zinedine Zidane against Italian national team defender Marco Materazzi, who did not stop provoking him for a long time during the interview.
Read also: Zidane renews his desire to coach the French national team “in the future”
While the French team was controlling the course of the match and was close to scoring the second goal that would give them victory, the course of the match turned upside down, and Zidane, the heart of the “Roosters” team’s attack, was sent off in the 110th minute, leaving his teammates in a decisive moment until the end of the match and Italy’s victory on penalties.
"It's my fault"
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of this sporting “incident” that remained firmly established in the minds of football fans, the legendary goalkeeper of the Italian national team, Gianluigi Buffon (176 international matches), unloaded what was on his sleeve and revealed for the first time the details of the events of this controversial final, acknowledging his indirect participation in ending Zidane’s football career, as he was the one who informed the referee of the incident.
Buffon said: "I feel all forms of guilt. It is my fault. I was about 15 meters away, and I heard a strong sound. If Zidane had done that to anyone else, he would have fallen unconscious. The assistant referee did not see the incident, and I was the only one who saw it. So I rushed towards the referee and his assistant to get their attention. Materazzi was on the ground, and Zidane was standing still. As for me, I protested, so the match was stopped."
Buffon: “I was torn and disturbed between contradictory feelings”
This is what he confessed first, in a tone mixed with some humor, before explaining the reasons for his feeling upset about this shot that has become legendary.
He continued: "At that time (2006), VAR did not yet exist. But the referees still went to watch the television footage to check the situation. This led to Zidane's immediate expulsion. I was torn and disturbed between contradictory feelings. I knew that this was his last match, and that he was one of the greatest and most elegant players in the history of football. I was sorry that it ended like this."
Since that incident, the two men have met on many occasions without discussing the issue. Buffon said: "We never talked about it. Of course, we met several times, and I think we have a good relationship based on mutual trust. I never wanted to bring up this topic out of respect for him. He is a champion who has won everything, but I think that, deep down, this situation will always be painful for him, and that's why I didn't want to remind him of it."
Read also: The ghost of the 2006 World Cup still haunts Zidane
As for Zinedine Zidane, he spoke about his behavior during the 2006 World Cup final when he reached the age of fifty, admitting a degree of remorse. He stated: "It is difficult, but it is my career. It is the story of my life."
Despite this unexpected football end, the Marseille native was able to continue his football career as a successful coach, winning the Champions League three times in a row with Real Madrid, in addition to his ambition to coach the French national team after the end of the 2026 World Cup.
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