Iconic FIFA World Cup moments

Legacy
Complete
Dec 18, Lusail
Argentina 3 France 3
(Penalties 4-2)
Lionel Messi finally
achieves dream of
winning World Cup for
his beloved Argentina –
emulating hero
Diego Maradona
in breathtaking
final

The
First Crown
Jul 30, Montevideo
Uruguay 4 Argentina 2
Inaugural tournament sees
Lucien Laurent score first
goal in World Cup history
for France. Hosts Uruguay
defeat Argentina in final
to lift trophy presented
by Jules Rimet

Maracanã
Blow
Jul 16, Rio de Janeiro
Uruguay 2 Brazil 1
Possibly greatest upset
in World Cup. Uruguay
defeat hosts Brazil in
decisive match at Maracanã,
– Alcides Ghiggia scoring
winner in front of estimated
200,000 stunned spectators


Birth of
a Legend
Jun 15, Gothenburg
Brazil 2 Soviet Union 0
World Cup debut for
17-year-old Pelé, who
announces himself with an
assist, before becoming
youngest player to appear
in final as Brazil beat
Sweden to clinch first title

They Think
It’s All Over
Jul 30, London
England 4 W. Germany 2
Iconic moment in English
football culture, Geoff Hurst
scores hat-trick in dramatic
extra-time victory – feat
later matched by Kylian
Mbappé in 2022 final

Cruyff
Turn
Jun 19, Dortmund
Netherlands 0 Sweden 0
Famous moment of superb
skill by Johan Cruyff.
The Dutch master feints
to cross, turns 180 degrees,
and swerves past helpless
Swedish defender

Divine
Inspiration
Jun 22, Mexico City
Argentina 2 England 1
Diego Maradona scores
controversial ‘Hand of God’
goal after punching ball
past Peter Shilton in
clash with England

The
Beautiful Aria
Italy hosts World Cup
in tournament forever
associated with Luciano
Pavarotti’s rousing rendition
of ‘Nessun Dorma’, which
becomes anthem of
modern game

Dutch
Masterpiece
Jul 4, Marseille
Netherlands 2 Argentina 1
Dennis Bergkamp scores
iconic goal from superb
long-range pass by
Frank de Boer,
taking three sublime
touches to control ball
and volley past goalkeeper

The
Final Act
Jul 9, Berlin
Italy 1 France 1 (pens 5-3)
Zinedine Zidane becomes
fourth player sent off
in World Cup final after
red card for headbutting
Marco Materazzi in chest,
ending international career

A Nation
Silenced
Jul 8, Belo Horizonte
Germany 7 Brazil 1
Germany record historic
semi-final victory over Brazil,
equalling host nation’s
heaviest defeat. Miroslav
Klose becomes all-time
World Cup top scorer
with 16 goals

Entertaining tournament,
shock results, set-piece
goals galore and introduction
of Video Assistant Referee.
Viewed differently after
Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine in 2022
A Different
Russia

United States, Canada
and Mexico co-host
an expanded 48-team
showpiece, amid
rising global tensions
and domestic challenges,
mounting pressure
on FIFA President
Gianni Infantino (below)
Make Football
Great Again

Source: FIFA
Pictures: Getty Images, Wikimedia Commons
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