Marco Materazzi Courts Controversy, Buys ‘Statue of Zidane’s 2006 World Cup Final Headbutt’

• Marco Materazzi and Zinedine Zidane were embroiled in one of the most surreal scenes in a World Cup final
• The conversation that ensued between Zidane and Materazzi, which resulted in the former headbutting the latter, was shrouded in secrecy until the Italian defender finally opened up recently
• According to Marco, who turns 50 in August, he riled the Frenchman up with his trash talk. He has gone a step further by immortalizing the incident by purchasing an artwork depicting the scene

Marco Materazzi has purchased a monument depicting Zinedine Zidane's infamous headbutt on him during the 2006 FIFA World Cup final.

The former Italy star recently opened up on what led to one of the most iconic yet infamous moments in a World Cup final, when the legendary Zidane had his moment of madness on the biggest stage in global football.

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Materazzi disclosed he turned down Zidane's offer to swap jerseys after the game, instead 'insulting' the Frenchman's sister, according to GOAL.

The incident, which occurred 17 years ago, has been portrayed in terracotta by Italian craftsman based in the Southern part of the country, Genny Di Virgilio.

On a visit to Naples which took the ex-Inter Milan defender to Di Virgilio's workshop, the 49-year-old was enthused by the artwork, instantly falling in love with the sculpture work depicting his infamous incident before buying it.

"Materazzi,' Di Virgilio told ANSA as quoted by All Football, 'lingered in my workshop for a long time asking a thousand questions about the art of the nativity scene, but when I showed him the headpiece, which I had created some time ago, he burst out laughing and wanted to buy it, accepting only a lucky horn as a gift'.

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Zidane's headbutt, his last act in what was a glistening football career at the very top, resulted in his sending-off in extra time, which tiled the final in favour of Italy, helping the Azzurri win their fourth World Cup title.

Materazzi reveals trash talk to Zidane

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that the former Inter Milan defender has since opened up on what transpired between the two prior to receiving a vicious headbutt from the Frenchman.

“Trash talking, my trash talking was nothing. He offered me his jersey, and I said no, I prefer his sister,” he said on IFTV Podcast, apparently still amused by the incident.

Rumours in the football world had earlier claimed Materazzi, who stayed on after the assault and scored in the shootout, had insulted Zidane's mother.