Best FIFA World Cup Moments of All Time

Ninety-six years of World Cups have produced enough iconic moments to fill a library. Below are the ten that defined the tournament, ordered by historical impact rather than chronologically.

Maradona vs England, 1986

The 1986 quarterfinal in Mexico City contained two of the most famous goals in World Cup history, both scored by Diego Maradona within five minutes. The first, the Hand of God, saw him punch the ball over Peter Shilton and into the net. The second, voted FIFA's Goal of the Century, was a 60-meter solo dribble past five English players and the keeper. Argentina won 2-1 and went on to lift the trophy.

Iniesta's final, 2010

Spain entered the 2010 final without ever having won a World Cup. The match against the Netherlands was scrappy, brutal, and 0-0 through 116 minutes. Andrés Iniesta then arrived at the back post on a Cesc Fàbregas cutback and side-footed the ball past Maarten Stekelenburg. The goal won Spain their first World Cup and confirmed the tiki-taka era as the defining football of its decade.

Brazil 1-7 Germany, 2014

The 2014 semifinal at the Mineirão was supposed to be the moment Brazil moved past their 1950 home-tournament trauma. Instead, Germany scored five goals in 18 minutes (Müller, Klose, two from Kroos, Khedira) and Brazil collapsed in front of a stunned home crowd. The 7-1 final score remains the worst defeat in Brazilian football history and the most psychologically scarring result of any host nation in World Cup history.

Zidane's headbutt, 2006

The 2006 final was Zidane's last match before retirement. He had given France the lead from the penalty spot, then in the 110th minute, with the score 1-1, he stopped jogging back from a counter-attack, turned to Marco Materazzi, and headbutted him in the chest. He was sent off. Italy won the match on penalties. It remains the most photographed moment in football history outside of a goal.

Messi's redemption, 2022

The 2022 final, Argentina vs France, is widely considered the greatest World Cup final ever played. Messi scored twice, the second coming in extra time. France, trailing 3-2, scored a Mbappé hat-trick to take it to penalties. Argentina won the shootout. Messi lifted the trophy at age 35, completing the only achievement missing from his career and ending the GOAT debate for most observers.

Five more iconic moments

• Pelé's 1958 final goal: 17-year-old Pelé scored twice in Brazil's 5-2 win over Sweden. The bicycle-chest-control-volley sequence introduced him to the world.
• Carlos Alberto's 1970 fourth goal: The greatest team goal ever scored. Brazil moved the ball through nine players before Carlos Alberto finished a powerful right-foot strike past Italy.
• Geoff Hurst's third goal, 1966: The infamous "did it cross the line?" goal in the England vs Germany final. Hurst's subsequent fourth goal sealed England's only World Cup.
• Roger Milla, 1990: The 38-year-old Cameroonian celebrated his goals with corner-flag dance and led Cameroon to the first African quarterfinal in World Cup history.
• Morocco beats Spain, 2022: The first African or Arab semifinalist in World Cup history. The penalty shootout against Spain announced a new tier of international football.

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