France 2006
France reached the 2006 final as an improbable resurrection. Zinédine Zidane, who had come out of international retirement for one last World Cup, was playing the most elegant football of his life at the age of 34. In the final in Berlin against Italy, Zidane opened the scoring with a chipped penalty a Panenka of almost arrogant audacity that kissed the underside of the crossbar before dropping in. Marco Materazzi headed the equaliser. And then, in extra time, the unthinkable: after an exchange of words with Materazzi, Zidane headbutted him in the chest. Red card. The greatest player in the world left the pitch for the last time, walking past the World Cup trophy without looking at it. France lost the shootout 3-5. Zidane's farewell genius, pride, self-destruction is perhaps the most tragic and human moment in the history of sport.