Zidane has ‘no regrets’ about Materazzi headbutt as France face Italy again
The incident led to him being sent off in extra time in what was his last ever match as a player.
Source: Straits Times Sport · October 2, 2026 at 5:02 AM · AI-assisted report
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STADE DE FRANCE, 2 OCTOBER 2026 —
Zinedine Zidane said on 1 October that he has no regrets about the headbutt he delivered to Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final, as he prepares to host Italy in his first home match in charge of France on 2 October at the Stade de France.
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The remarks came during a press conference in Saint‑Denis, where Zidane addressed the incident that saw him sent off in extra time of what was his last ever appearance as a player. He noted that the images of the headbutt are repeatedly shown, but he chooses to focus on the positive aspects of his career.
Zidane said the incident is part of his career and that he does not have regrets because it was one of the many experiences that shaped him. He added that, although he is not proud of what happened, he has acknowledged it repeatedly and accepts that a career cannot consist only of wonderful moments.
Reflecting on 2006, he said he did not anticipate becoming a coach and believed his playing days were over, which made the moment difficult to process. He also revealed that he has not spoken to Materazzi since the night in Berlin, when Italy won the final on penalties.
The France head coach was appointed in late July 2026, succeeding his former international teammate Didier Deschamps, who stepped down after 14 years in charge following the World Cup held in North America. At 54 years old, Zidane brings experience from his previous role as coach of Real Madrid. His first two matches in charge have been away fixtures, with Les Bleus securing 1‑0 victories in Turkey and Belgium in the UEFA Nations League.
The upcoming match against Italy on 2 October will be Zidane’s first home game as France coach and is expected to draw a sell‑out crowd of close to 80,000 spectators at the Stade de France, located to the north of Paris. France will be without captain Kylian Mbappé, who returned to his club Real Madrid after sustaining a knee injury while scoring the winning goal in Turkey the previous week.
Zidane described the occasion as “really emotional,” noting that his last appearance at the stadium as a player came in a friendly against Mexico in 2006.
Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint‑Germain, who won the 2025 Ballon d’Or and is nominated again in 2026, said there is no tension between himself and Mbappé despite recent media comments about the award. He told reporters, “There is no issue. We have talked about it.
We sit next to each other at the dinner table,” and dismissed the matter as a “social media squabble.” Mbappé, in a September interview with France Football magazine, had remarked that Dembélé “was always seen as a talented player, while I was always seen as the chosen one.” Dembélé replied a few days later, stating, “I have never been the chosen one, but I have worked hard, and last year I was rewarded for a fantastic year with Paris Saint‑Germain.
This year we will see.”
Zidane’s final comment at the press conference was that the match against Italy would be really emotional, referencing his last appearance at the Stade de France as a player in a friendly against Mexico in 2006.
Related: Zinedine Zidane · Stade de France