Zinedine Zidane’s Headbutt Immortalized In Bronze

One of sports’ most notorious incidents is now permanently remembered as a statue outside the Pompidou Center in Paris.

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Sculptor Adel Abdessemed created the statue, which recalls Zidane’s infamous headbutt during the 2006 FIFA World Cup final between France and Italy. Marco Materazzi was the player on the receiving end of the unexpected act. France would go on to lose the game, which was also Zidane’s final match. (Watch it here.)

Phillipe Alain Michaud, director of the exhibition, explains the piece:

This statue goes against the tradition of making statues to honor victories. It is an ode to defeat… Zidane’s downward glance recalls that of Adam, chased from paradise.

The exhibit will be open to the public starting October 3rd.