Materazzi was never the polished frontman of that Italy side. He was the hard edge.
That combination turned him into a permanent reference point whenever the 2006 final is discussed. It was not just about silverware; it was about drama, confrontation and the kind of moment that fixes a player in football history.
Materazzi’s legacy is broader than one night in Berlin. His long spell at Inter Milan placed him inside one of the club’s most successful modern eras.
He was not simply a cult figure. He was a marker of an Inter team that mixed steel with serial winning. That matters when judging why he still carries weight at ceremonial football events.
A museum opening needs recognisable figures, and Materazzi brings instant recall. He represents a generation when major tournaments still felt defined by personalities as much as systems. The report also says other football names could attend, which would give the launch a broader pull across eras.
The next thing to watch is whether those expected appearances are fully confirmed before May 28. If they are, the opening may feel less like a ribbon-cutting and more like a live reunion with football’s recent past.