Darwin Nunez and five headbutts that shocked football

Shocking to receive his first red card for the season and Liverpool’s just two games in the Premier League, Darwin Nunez is a distressed man.

The Uruguayan international was sent off after headbutting Crystal palace defender in a match that ended a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Before his red card, Darwin Nunez and Crystal palace defender Joachim Andersen were trailed throwing words at each other after a series of challenges that Nunez failed to win the ball against the defender.

Do you some of the infamous headbutts in football?

SportsLeo looks back at some of the most infamous headbutts documented in football history.

Darwin Nunez: 2022

The Uruguayan international came into Anfield on high fees having impressed at Benfica. in a signing that involved  €100 million, Liverpool expects Nunez to perform highly in the role.

The former Benfica player started Premier League life well scoring in a community shield win against Manchester City and pulling a draw against new Premier League boys this season, Fulham.

But he lost the plot in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace as he allowed himself to be wound up by defender Joachim Andersen before headbutting the Dane in the face.

He was immediately sent off, leaving his team a man down for the rest of the game.

Zinedine Zidane: 2006

The French international player is widely remembered for his trickery and his ability to hold the midfield and provide long-range passes.

Zinedine Zidane lost the plot in the 2006 World Cup in Berlin against Italy. He threw himself in a fight against  Italy’s Marco Materazzi while the scores were level at 1-1 in extra time.

Zidane headbutted Materazzi during the world cup final; Photo/GiveMeSport

Zinedine Zidane was angered by Marco Materazzi’s trash talk in events that saw Zidane headbutting the defender in the extra time.

In what was the french legend the final game of his career Zidane was sent off as Italy went on to win 5-3 on penalties to claim a fourth World Cup.

Ariel Ortega: 1998

Argentina has not won the World Cup for pushing on four decades now but things could have been different had Ariel Ortega not lost his mind in the quarter-finals of the 1998 World Cup.

The Argentines were drawing 1-1 with the Netherlands heading towards an extra time when Ortega reacted to being accused of diving by headbutting Edwin van der Sar.

Ortega was sent off and soon after Dennis Bergkamp would score one of the great World Cup goals to take the Netherlands into the semis.

Diego Maradona: 1984

It was a Diego Maradona headbutt that kicked off the most infamous fight on a football pitch ever witnessed.

The 1984 Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao was a fiery affair, with the Blaugrana’s star man Maradona kicking lumps out throughout the game.

Maradona had a history with the Basques as their hardman Andoni Goikoetxea had broken his ankle with a horror tackle the year before.

Diego Maradona was a colorful player to watch, May he rest in peace; Photo/Daily Mail

At the full-time whistle of a final Athletic won, Maradona squared up to Miguel Sola before headbutting him. The Argentine then elbowed another player and knocked out another with a knee to the head.

Maradona was promptly sold to Napoli and the rest, as they say, is history.

Manuel Amoros: 1984

One of the first headbutts to shock football in front of a global audience. France hosted the 1984 European Championship and was keen to make a good impression in their opening game against Denmark.

However, right-back Manuel Amoros who had been voted as the best young player at the World Cup two years earlier – did the complete opposite.

He connected with a vicious headbutt on Denmark winger Jesper Olsen and was immediately sent off.

This as good as ended his tournament as he was banned for three games, although he did return to play as a substitute in the final against Spain as France won their first major international tournament.