“If I go to the Olympics, I will enjoy every moment,” said Marta, while shedding light on her retirement plans just months before embarking on the Paris journey. However, things seemingly didn’t go as planned for the Brazilian icon in the ongoing summer games during the final group-stage match, she got sent off within the first 45 minutes of the game.

This potentially brings her international journey to an end as Brazil may not go ahead in the tournament after typical standings in Group C. While Marta tries to reel her own absence in the crucial game, we take a look at some other interesting incidents that saw some of the biggest names, including Zinedine Zidane and Gerard Pique, who have been sent off in their final game.

Jurgen Kohler

With 13 trophies including a 1990 World Cup, a 1996 European Championship, and the 1997 Champions League, Jurgen Kohler undoubtedly enjoyed an illustrious 22-year-long career. 2002 was the final year for the German icon as his final match was a crucial one. Playing for Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Cup final against Feyenoord in Rotterdam, the defender mishandled a back pass.

This allowed a young Robin van Persie to seize the opportunity. While the Dutch forward was making a run towards the goal, Kohler tried to tone down van Persie by making a reckless challenge from the back. This saw the 1997 German Footballer of the Year get sent off. This wasn’t the unlucky part as 10-man Dortmund lost to Feyenoord who sealed the win 3-2 on penalties.

Mark van Bommel

Perhaps one of the greatest holding midfielders the Netherlands ever produced, the farewell game for Mark van Bommel also proved unlucky. In the final stages of his second stint at PSV Eindhoven, he lined up against FC Twente which was deemed as a tough away fixture. van Bommel, then 36, received two yellow cards inside 15 minutes of the latter 45 minutes of the game, eventually heading down to the tunnel.

With his absence on the pitch, PSV lost 3-1, also losing out on the Eredivisie title by seven points to arch-rivals Ajax. However, we may remind you that van Bommel’s reputation during his playing days was something like a no-nonsense player. Having accumulated 141 bookings and 13 sent-offs in his career spanning over 21 years should come as no surprise.

Edgar Davids

Another tough-tackling Dutch midfielder, Edgar Davids’ name may seem strange popping up in this list. However, the ex-Barcelona midfielder was a regular customer of officials, who often used to warn him. The year 2012 saw him come out of retirement for the third time to accept the player-manager at Barnet. During a National League match against Salisbury City in December 2013, Davids, then 40, received a second yellow card late in the second half following an altercation with Angus McDonald.

This match marked the end of his playing career for good. In a post-match interview, Davids expressed frustration, claiming that referees were unfairly targeting him. Notably, his playing style was similar to that of Mark van Bommel, characterized by his tenacity and aggressive approach on the field.

Gerard Pique

Gerard Pique’s sending-off in his final match is rather an interesting one. This is because the Spanish defender received the red card when he wasn’t even playing. It all transpired in 2022, during Barcelona’s 2-1 win vs Osasuna, Robert Lewandowski was sent off within the half-hour mark, which was intriguingly Polish striker’s red card in almost a decade.

The red card apparently didn’t settle with Pique, who rushed toward the referee Jesus Gil Manzano during halftime and argued with him over his decision. This backfired on the former Manchester United man as he too received a red card from Manzano.

Zinedine Zidane

Hands down, one of the most iconic moments in the history of soccer. The legendary 2006 FIFA World Cup against Italy in Berlin was the place he got red-carded. The game was level at 1-1 with only 10 minutes of extra time remaining on the clock. Zidane and Italy’s Marco Materazzi exchanged a few words with each other.

The situation escalated when Zidane thrust his head into the chest of the Italian defender, knocking him to the ground. Over the years, what Materazzi said to provoke Zidane’s reaction has been a subject of debate. Regardless, to this day, the headbutt incident is remembered alongside Zidane’s memorable playing career.