Marco Materazzi has purchased a monument depicting Zinedine Zidane's infamous headbutt on him during the 2006 FIFA World Cup final.

The former Italy star recently opened up on what led to one of the most iconic yet infamous moments in a World Cup final, when the legendary Zidane had his moment of madness on the biggest stage in global football.

Materazzi disclosed he turned down Zidane's offer to swap jerseys after the game, instead 'insulting' the Frenchman's sister, according to GOAL.

The incident, which occurred 17 years ago, has been portrayed in terracotta by Italian craftsman based in the Southern part of the country, Genny Di Virgilio.

On a visit to Naples which took the ex-Inter Milan defender to Di Virgilio's workshop, the 49-year-old was enthused by the artwork, instantly falling in love with the sculpture work depicting his infamous incident before buying it.

"Materazzi,' Di Virgilio told ANSA as quoted by All Football, 'lingered in my workshop for a long time asking a thousand questions about the art of the nativity scene, but when I showed him the headpiece, which I had created some time ago, he burst out laughing and wanted to buy it, accepting only a lucky horn as a gift'.

Zidane's headbutt, his last act in what was a glistening football career at the very top, resulted in his sending-off in extra time, which tiled the final in favour of Italy, helping the Azzurri win their fourth World Cup title.