2006 FIFA World Cup

Notes

Italy's fourth title, won 5-3 on penalties after 1-1 a.e.t. with France. The match is remembered for Zidane's headbutt on Materazzi in the 110th minute (red card, his last act in football). Italy conceded only 2 goals all tournament (one own goal, one Zidane penalty in final). Germany hosted; Klinsmann's young team finished 3rd. First Best Young Player award introduced — won by Lukas Podolski. Trinidad & Tobago, Angola, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, and Ukraine all made WC debuts. Bizarre Adidas mascot 'Goleo' (a lion in shorts but no pants) and his football-shaped sidekick Pille.

Awards & marks

Best player

Zinedine Zidane

Best young

Lukas Podolski

Best GK

Gianluigi Buffon

Ball

Adidas Teamgeist

Mascot

Goleo VI and Pille

Top scorers

1. 1.Miroslav KloseGermany· Forwards5
2. 2.Zinedine ZidaneFrance· Midfielders3
3. 3.Thierry HenryFrance· Forwards3
4. 4.Lukas PodolskiGermany· Forwards3
5. 5.RonaldoBrazil· Forwards3
6. 6.Hernán CrespoArgentina· Forwards3
7. 7.Maxi RodríguezArgentina· Midfielders3
8. 8.Fernando TorresSpain· Forwards3
9. 9.David VillaSpain· Forwards3
10. 10.Luca ToniItaly· Forwards2

Italy's road to the title

1. r16vs Australia1-0
2. qfvs Ukraine3-0
3. sfvs Germany2-0 (a.e.t.)
4. finalvs France1-1 (5-3 pens)

Confederation breakdown

• UEFA14
• CONMEBOL4
• Concacaf4
• CAF5
• AFC5
• OFC0

📚 Trivia (2)

• finalsZinedine Zidane's last act in football was headbutting Italy's Marco Materazzi in the chest in the 110th minute of the 2006 final. He was sent off; Italy won 5-3 on penalties after 1-1 a.e.t. Zidane still won Best Player.
• firsts2006 was the first WC with a Best Young Player award. The inaugural winner: Lukas Podolski (Germany), aged 21.