#3 Zinedine Zidane
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Considered by many as one of the greatest to have ever graced the beautiful game, Zinedine Zidane’s swansong was one he would like to forget and one which he mostly likely regrets to date.
Going into the final of the 2006 World Cup, Zizou had already announced that it would be his last game for club and country and was awarded the Golden Ball – for being the best player of the tournament. The French midfielder put his side ahead against Italy with a spot-kick in the 7th minute before Marco Materazzi equalised 12 minutes later.
The game headed to extra-time and it is then that the drama unfolded. In the 110th minute of the match with the game evenly poised, Zidane headbutted Materazzi in the chest and was shown a straight red card. It was later learnt that Zidane was provoked by the Italian defender, who had uttered provocatives about the Frenchman’s sister causing Zidane to lose his temper.
The golden ball winner had to watch from the dressing room as his side lost to the Azzurri on penalties and his final goodbye didn’t pan out the way he had imagined.
