The First Dismissal: Pedro Monzón (1990)
For the first 60 years of the World Cup, no player was ever sent off in the final. That changed in the ill-tempered 1990 decider between West Germany and Argentina. In the 65th minute, with the game scoreless, Argentine substitute Pedro Monzón lunged
in with a reckless, studs-up challenge on Jürgen Klinsmann. Referee Edgardo Codesal of Mexico showed a straight red card, making Monzón the first player in history to be dismissed in a World Cup final. The foul, which Klinsmann claimed left a significant gash on his shin, reduced Argentina to ten men and tilted the bruising encounter firmly in West Germany's favour. It was a moment of madness that set the tone for a bitter conclusion.
A Second Blow for Argentina: Gustavo Dezotti (1990)
Argentina's disciplinary meltdown in the 1990 final wasn't over. After Andreas Brehme converted a controversial 85th-minute penalty to give West Germany the lead, Argentine frustration boiled over. Just two minutes later, striker Gustavo Dezotti received his second yellow card and was sent off. The incident occurred when Dezotti, already on a booking, grabbed Jürgen Kohler by the neck in a tussle over the ball, a moment described by observers as resembling a wrestling move. The second dismissal reduced Argentina to nine men, cementing the final's reputation as one of the ugliest in history and ensuring West Germany's 1-0 victory.
Winning with Ten Men: Marcel Desailly (1998)
Eight years later, a red card was once again shown in the final, this time to a player on the winning team. In Paris, hosts France were cruising with a 2-0 lead over Brazil, thanks to two Zinedine Zidane headers. French defender Marcel Desailly, already on a yellow for dissent, was shown a second yellow in the 68th minute for a clumsy sliding tackle on Brazil's Cafu. Despite going down to ten men, the organised French side held firm. The dismissal ultimately had little impact on the result, as Emmanuel Petit would add a third goal in injury time to seal France's first-ever World Cup triumph with a 3-0 victory. Desailly became the first player to be sent off from a winning team in the final.
The Infamous Headbutt: Zinedine Zidane (2006)
Perhaps the most iconic red card in football history came in the 2006 final, and it involved the hero of 1998. In his final professional match, French captain Zinedine Zidane was dismissed in extra time against Italy. After exchanging words with Italian defender Marco Materazzi, Zidane inexplicably turned and headbutted Materazzi in the chest. Referee Horacio Elizondo, alerted to the off-the-ball incident, showed a straight red card in the 110th minute. With the score tied 1-1 and their talisman gone, France lost the subsequent penalty shootout. The shocking act of aggression provided a stunning and controversial end to one of the game's greatest careers.
A Costly Challenge: John Heitinga (2010)
The 2010 final between the Netherlands and Spain was a notoriously physical affair, with referee Howard Webb issuing a record 14 yellow cards. One player, Dutch defender John Heitinga, received two of them. With the match scoreless in the 109th minute of extra time, Heitinga, already booked, pulled back Spanish midfielder Andrés Iniesta as he ran towards goal. Webb showed a second yellow, and the Netherlands were forced to play the final minutes with ten men. The numerical advantage proved decisive. Just seven minutes later, it was Iniesta who scored the dramatic winning goal, securing Spain's first World Cup title. Heitinga's dismissal was the last red card to have been shown in a World Cup final.
