Most Shocking Red Cards in FIFA World Cup History

The FIFA World Cup, throughout its history, has given us plenty of brilliant moments. However, just because a moment is historic doesn’t mean it is a positive incident. And ever since its inception, the World Cup has given us moments when players lost their cool and got sent off. Red cards are an integral part of football and have been shown 174 times throughout the World Cup history. 

And some of these are remembered by fans even today, such as Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi. Since the World Cup is the biggest spectacle in football, players look to give their all to help their nation. And in such a competitive environment, the margin between defeat and victory is small, often bringing out the best or the worst in a player. 

So, let’s look at the top 10 red cards in football history.

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Battle of Nuremberg, 2006 FIFA World Cup 

Even a single red card in a match generates much furore on the World Cup stage. So guess what happens when a game delivers four of them, and that too in a round of 16 tie. In the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Portugal met the Netherlands at the Max-Morlock-Stadion in Nuremberg. Emotions were high on both sides as a spot in the quarter-final was at stake.

However, no one could have imagined that the match would produce 16 yellow cards and four red cards. The game was physical from the start as Mark van Bommel and Khalid Boulahrouz were handed yellow cards inside seven minutes. And the match saw its first red card just before half-time ended, as Costinah was sent for a second yellow card. Things got even more physical in the second half as Boulahrouz, Deco and Giovanni van Bronckhorst were sent off. 

Between all of this, Maniche scored a first-half goal that got Portugal through to the next round. 

The Battle of Nuremberg | World Cup 2006

A World Cup record of four red cards and 16 yellow cards in the same match! 🤯pic.twitter.com/Q6ip1ccWLx

— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) November 18, 2022

David Beckham, 1998 FIFA World Cup 

Diego Simeone has made Atletico Madrid a resilient team who are also a master of the dark arts. And the Argentine was no different in his playing manager as he played in central midfield for his nation at the 1998 World Cup. He played at the base of midfield and acted as a shield for the defence. 

And in the round of 16, they faced England, a team with brilliant players and young talents such as David Beckham, Michael Owen, Alan Shearer, Paul Scholes, and…