Zinedine Zidane: Fabio Cannavaro Opens Up on Marco Materazzi Headbutt Incident

• Fabio Cannavaro has relived one of the most controversial moments in World Cup history
• The Ballon d'Or winner captained Italy to their 2006 World Cup win over France
• He was close by as Zinedine Zidane was sent off for a headbutt on Marco Materazzi

Fabio Cannavaro has revealed his side of the story on what he saw and thought of the infamous Zinedine Zidane headbutt on Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final.

The incident ranks highly among the most controversial moments in World Cup history and football as a whole.

The headbutt came in extra time of the clash between France and Italy at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany. With the game still finely poised, Zidane lunged his head onto Materazzi's chest in the 110th minute, with centre referee Horacio Elizondo giving him a straight red card.

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Italy would go on to win the final on post-match penalties. The 2006 final was Zidane's last professional game as he brought the curtains down to an illustrious career despite the sad ending.

What Cannavaro heard

The Azzurri captain, Cannavaro, has revealed that he was close enough to hear the sound Zidane's head made with Materazzi's chest.

"I heard the knock. I was close by," he told 442.

The 2006 Ballon d'Or winner also admitted that he didn't hear the exact words the two exchanged to prompt such a reaction from Zidane.

"I didn’t hear what they said to each other, but I heard the noise of Zizou’s head hitting Marco’s chest. I don’t even know exactly how it came about or who said what to whom – Marco just told me afterwards that he had received a headbutt."

What Materazzi said to Zidane

Sports Brief has previously 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.

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“Trash talking, my trash talking was nothing. He offered me his jersey, and I said no, I prefer his sister."

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.