In 2002, Ronaldo shocked the world with more than just his football skills—he unveiled a funny triangular haircut that became legendary. Facing constant scrutiny over his knee injury, Ronaldo used the haircut to distract the media and shift the focus away from his fitness issues.
With the press fixated on his new look, Ronaldo was free to focus on his game. And it worked. He led Brazil to victory, scoring twice in the final against Germany, securing the World Cup, and completing a remarkable comeback story.
Our animated cartoon captures this fun and clever tactic that helped Ronaldo reclaim his greatness. Watch how a simple haircut became a key part of his journey to World Cup glory!
A heated match between Juventus and Inter Milan during the 1997-98 season left not only football fans, but also politicians, in uproar.
Tensions ran high after Juventus was denied a penalty, leading to a 0-0 draw and a subsequent 1-0 victory for Inter Milan. However, the controversy reached its peak during the match when referee Piero Ceccarini opted not to award a penalty for a foul committed by Juventus' Mark Iuliano on Inter forward Ronaldo.
Adding fuel to the fire, Juventus, leading 1-0 at the time, was eventually granted a penalty just moments later. However, Alessandro Del Piero failed to convert it. Despite this, Juventus clinched the game with a 1-0 victory, securing the scudetto with a five-point lead.
The aftermath of the match spilled into the political arena, causing a stir in the Italian parliament. During a publicly broadcast "question time" session in April 1998, Domenico Gramazio of the National Alliance erupted, reportedly shouting "They are all thieves!" at Massimo Mauro, a fellow politician and former Juventus player representing the ruling Democrats of the Left.
The spectacle prompted outrage from Walter Veltroni, then-Deputy Prime Minister, who denounced the behavior as "unworthy, embarrassing, and grotesque." The session had to be abruptly suspended, and repercussions followed for several politicians involved.
The incident highlighted the deep intertwining of football and politics in Italian society, where the passion for the sport often spills over into other aspects of public life, sometimes with tumultuous consequences.
Marco Materazzi is a former professional football player from Italy who is perhaps best known for his controversial clash with French football legend Zinedine Zidane during the 2006 FIFA World Cup final.
Materazzi was born on August 19, 1973, in Lecce, Italy, and began his professional football career with his hometown club, Lecce, in 1991. He went on to play for several other Italian clubs, including Perugia and Inter Milan over the course of his career, as well as for the Italian national team.
Materazzi was known for his tough and physical style of play, as well as his ability to score goals from set pieces. He was also known for his controversial behavior on the pitch, including his habit of provoking opponents with verbal taunts.
Despite the controversy surrounding the incident with Zidane, Italy went on to win the World Cup, with Materazzi playing a key role in the team's success. He retired from professional football in 2014, having won numerous domestic and international titles throughout his career, most importantly the Treble with Inter Milan in 2010.
My friend Waheed Almasri met him in Dubai and offered him my cartoon.
