Who was the first player sent off in a World Cup final?

Pedro Monzón was the first player sent off in a FIFA World Cup final, receiving a straight red card for Argentina against West Germany in 1990.

The dismissal came in the 58th minute at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. Monzón made a dangerous, studs-up challenge on West Germany’s Jürgen Klinsmann, and referee Edgardo Codesal immediately showed him the red card. The incident was especially notable because FIFA had instructed officials to enforce disciplinary rules firmly at the tournament.

Argentina later lost another player: Gustavo Dezotti was sent off late in the match after pulling down Jürgen Kohler. Argentina therefore finished with nine players, while West Germany won 1–0 through Andreas Brehme’s 85th-minute penalty.

A common mix-up involves Marco Materazzi and Zinedine Zidane, who were both sent off in the 2006 World Cup final, but they came sixteen years later. Monzón’s dismissal was the first red card shown to a player in the final match of the men’s World Cup.