Summary
- John MacDougall was the only photographer to capture Zidane’s famous headbutt.
- The incident happened off the ball, while most photographers were looking elsewhere.
- The photo was taken during the 2006 World Cup final between France and Italy.
- Zidane was sent off in the final match of his professional career.
- The image appeared in newspapers and magazines around the world.
Twenty years after the 2006 World Cup final, AFP photographer John MacDougall recalls how he captured Zinedine Zidane’s famous headbutt on Marco Materazzi.
The moment that defined the final between France and Italy happened away from the ball, while most photographers and spectators were looking toward the opposite side of the pitch.
The image matters because it captured one of the most recognizable and controversial moments in football history, while also showing how decisive careful observation can be in news photography.
⚽ BEHIND THE NEWS: Zidane’s World Cup headbutt 20 years on
AFP’s John MacDougall was the only photographer to capture the faces of both Zinedine Zidane and Marco Materazzi during their infamous clash at the 2006 World Cup Final. Here he remembers that moment 20 years ago. pic.twitter.com/OC0QUnoGk0
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) June 12, 2026
The assignment that changed everything
John MacDougall was at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium for the 2006 World Cup final, but his assignment was unusual. According to him, he had been told to photograph whatever he wanted, except to follow the ball.
That instruction proved crucial. With the match tied at 1-1 and heading through extra time, MacDougall was watching the personal battle between Zidane and Materazzi instead of following the flow of play like most of his colleagues.
The moment of the headbutt
MacDougall said he had noticed Materazzi marking Zidane very aggressively. At one point, the French player moved out of the frame, but the photographer kept his lens on the Italian defender.
A few seconds later, Zidane came back into the frame and struck Materazzi in the chest with his head. MacDougall pressed the shutter and managed to capture a single frame just after impact, as Materazzi was beginning to fall to the ground.
Why no one else captured it
The incident happened away from the action, which explains why almost all photographers missed it. MacDougall recalled that his first reaction was to look around to see whether other photographers had noticed what had happened.
As he realized, most were still following the ball. There was no immediate reaction around him, which suggested that he was likely the only one who had captured the scene with both players’ faces visible.
The end of a great career
The headbutt led to Zidane being sent off with a red card. It was the final match of his professional career, and the image of him leaving the pitch became part of football history.
MacDougall later photographed Zidane’s dismissal, as well as Materazzi on the ground. The next day, he left for vacation, without immediately realizing the global impact his photo would have.
An image that became a global symbol
The photograph appeared in newspapers and magazines around the world. MacDougall understood its impact later in 2006, when it began appearing in year-end selections of the most important photographs of the year.
Despite the historical value of the image, the photographer remains modest, noting that the power of the photograph came mainly from the event itself, not only from the frame.
What we think
John MacDougall’s story is a strong example of how important it is to pay attention beyond the obvious. In news and sports photography, the best image is not always where everyone is looking, but where the photographer chooses to observe a little longer.
Frequently asked questions
Who took the famous photo of Zidane’s headbutt?
The photo was taken by John MacDougall, an AFP photographer, during the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin.
Why was he the only one to capture the moment?
Because the incident happened away from the ball, while most photographers were following the action in another direction.
When did the incident happen?
Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt on Marco Materazzi happened on July 9, 2006, during the World Cup final between France and Italy.
What happened to Zidane after the headbutt?
Zidane was sent off with a red card in the final match of his professional career.
Why is the photograph considered so important?
Because it captured a historic and unexpected event that almost every other photographer missed.
