Final Standings
Individual Awards
Tournament Overview
Italy won their fourth World Cup title in Berlin, defeating France on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The tournament will forever be remembered for Zinedine Zidane's headbutt on Marco Materazzi in the final — his last professional action before retirement. Zidane was given a red card and left the field while his team ultimately lost the shootout. Germany, hosting the tournament, thrilled their home crowd by reaching the semi-finals and finishing third, igniting a decade of renewed national pride and tactical innovation that would eventually produce their 2014 title.
Defining Moments
The Headbutt
With the final level at 1-1 and heading into extra time, Zinedine Zidane — the greatest player of his era, playing his last professional match — walked up to Italy's Marco Materazzi and headbutted him in the chest. Materazzi went down. Zidane was shown a red card. He walked past the World Cup trophy on his way to the tunnel. France eventually lost the shootout. Materazzi later admitted to making a comment about Zidane's sister. The headbutt remains the most notorious moment in World Cup final history.
Buffon's Impenetrable Defense
Gianluigi Buffon was 28 years old in 2006 and at the peak of his powers. Italy conceded a single goal in open play across the entire tournament — an own goal — while Buffon made save after save. His penalty shootout heroics in the final were a fitting end to a tournament-defining performance. He won the Golden Glove and was widely considered the player of the tournament ahead of the Golden Ball winner Zidane.
Germany's Party Despite Third Place
Germany had been written off before their home tournament. An aging squad, a divided nation, expectations low. Instead, Jurgen Klinsmann's team played with attacking intent, won their group, and went deep. When they beat Portugal in the third-place playoff, the streets of German cities filled in celebration. The goodwill generated by 2006 laid the foundation for the 2014 World Cup title.
France arrive at WC26 having won in 2018 and reached the 2022 final — their golden generation is still intact with Mbappé leading the charge. Germany, whose 2006 'summer fairy tale' sparked their modern golden era, arrive at WC26 still rebuilding after a difficult decade. Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, who played in 2006 as a rising 21-year-old, will feature for what is likely his final World Cup at WC26.
