Horatio Elizondo, the Argentine referee who plucked the red card out of his pocket after Zidane's infamous head-butt on Italy's Marco Materazzi, handed over the item of World Cup memorabilia after a one hour meeting with Kirchner at his presidential office.

"We spoke about the World Cup and he congratulated me," said Elizondo, who became the first referee to officiate at both the opening and closing matches at a World Cup.

Kirchner was evidently thrilled with the gift, playfully brandishing the tool of Zidane's downfall which had been autographed by Elizondo in the direction of cameramen as if he was booking them.

Zidane saw red after taunts from Materazzi near the end of extra time in the July 9 final in Berlin with the final deadlocked at 1-1.