Greatest World Cup Games Ever

Image source: Антон Зайцев, CC BY-SA 3.0 GFDL, via Wikimedia Commons

The 2022 Qatar World Cup is underway, and it has started off as a banger. There have already been epic matches such as the 3-3 draw between Cameroon and Serbia. In this article, we look at the greatest World Cup games ever to be played since the first World Cup in 1930. We take a look at the top 10 games of all-time.

The Greatest World Cup Games Ever: An Introduction

The FIFA World Cup will celebrate one hundred years of footie in 2030. In the first edition of the World Cup back in 1930, the winners of the tournament where the host nation, Uruguay. World Cup history has a lot of amazing matches, goals and spectacular moments. From the famous Pelé goal in the final at 17-years-old to the infamous Luis Suarez bite on Giorgio Chiellini. But the greatest matches of all time have something rather more spectacular about them.

They include beating the odds, defeating logic and other sorts of fantastic achievements. Over the course of history, there have been many World Cup tournaments that have been more enjoyable than other ones. For instance, the 1986 Mexico World Cup and the 2010 South Africa World Cup. Both of these tournaments had unique moments and memorable enjoying factors. It remains to be seen whether the Qatar World Cup will be quite as special. It is a first for players and fans to tune into the tournament at the wintertime. But, as we have already seen at online sportsbook sites in Qatar, there is a lot of hype around the 2022 World Cup already. Whether it will go down in history as one of the greatest or not is still a mystery.

One thing we can tell you, is that the greatest World Cup tournaments in history have memorable matches and moments. Below, we take a look at ten of the greatest World Cup matches of all time. To make things a little easier, we are going in chronological order.

Uruguay Beat Brazil in the Final Game of the 1950 World Cup

To start our journey, we travel back in time to the Maracanã stadium in Brazil. The stadium contained a reported 178,000 people crammed inside it to witness the final match. That is the highest ever attended World Cup match in history. In the 1950 edition of the World Cup, rather than having knockout stages, the best teams from each group were drawn into a winner-takes-all group.

The group included Brazil, Sweden, Spain and Uruguay. Following a 7-1 thrashing of Sweden and a 6-1 victory over Spain, Brazil only needed to draw their final fixture against Uruguay to win the World Cup for the first time. The final match was played at home and the host nation were looking to win their first ever World Cup. The stage was set.

Unfortunately for Brazil, the Uruguayan national football team shocked the world by coming back from behind to win 2-1. The Brazilian team would score the first goal in the first half, courtesy of a Friaca strike. However, with less than twenty-five minutes on the clock remaining, Uruguay scored two quick goals from Juan Alberto Schiaffino and Alcides Ghiggia. The two quick-fire goals left the Brazilian team stunned as they were beaten at home by the underdogs. Particularly as a draw would see them win the tournament. It was the second time Uruguay won the World Cup, following their success in the first World Cup tournament ever in 1930.

The Goal-fest between Switzerland and Austria in the Highest Scoring Contest of All Time

In the 1954, both Switzerland and Austria faced each other in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. The match was played in Lausanne, Switzerland, and is the highest ever World Cup scoring match of all time. In the quarterfinal round, the match recorded a thrilling 12 goals within 90 minutes. The match has been called “Hitzeschlacht von Lausanne”, which translates to “The heat battle of Lausanne” in English.

Austria came out as 7-5 winners of the game, beating the host nation Switzerland. The match was played in 40 degrees Celsius which resulted in a massive heatwave for the players. In fact, the Austrian goalkeeper is reported to have suffered from hyperthermia early in the match.

The Swiss team opened the scoring by finishing three quick goals in the first 20 minutes. Following that feat, Austria replied by scoring five goals unanswered before the Swiss team scored in the 39th minute. The first half ended at 5-4 to Austria. In the second half, Austria capitalized on their advantage by scoring two more goals before the Swiss team scored a consolation. That saw the match end as a 7-5 victory for the Austrian national team.

West Germany Beat the Hungarian “Golden Generation” in the World Cup Final

One of the greatest World Cup finals to ever be played saw the ‘Golden Generation’ of the Hungarian national team play against West Germany. The Hungarian team had Ferenc Puskás leading the line, one of the all-time leading international goal scorers of all time. In the group stage, the Hungarian national team beat West Germany 8-3. This made them outright favourites to win the World Cup final.

The 1954 World Cup final was played Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, Switzerland. Hungary scored two early goals to put them 2-0 up after only eight minutes of play. However, the Germans were quick to reply, scoring in the 10th minute. In the 18th minute, Helmut Rahn equalized for West Germany, to draw the score at 2-2. As the game was drawing to a close, Helmut Rahn feinted a pass to Ottmar Walter which saw the Hungarian defense all fall for the skill. It led the player to have a one on one with the goalkeeper which he scored. The late winner was scored in the 84th minute. It is known as one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history but also as a major win for West Germany.

Pelé Breaks onto the Scene in the 1958 World Cup Final

The 1958 World Cup was played in Sweden and the host nation managed to reach the final. Their opponents were Brazil. One of the star players in the Brazilian national team was the 17-year-old Pelé. He captured the hearts of all football fans by becoming the youngest player ever to score in a World Cup final. He was also the only teenager to score in a final until 2018 when Kylian Mbappé equaled this record.

The match finished 5-2 to the Brazilian team with Pelé scoring two goals. One of his goals goes down in the Hall of Fame as the best goal ever scored at the World Cup. He chested the ball down, flicked it over the defender and smashed it past the goalkeeper. This bit of magic put the Brazil team in front before they went on to win. Pelé would go on to win three of the following five World Cup tournaments. It is a feat that has never been matched, winning the World Cup on three separate occasions.

The 1966 World Cup Final between England and West Germany

One of the greatest World Cup games ever was played between England and West Germany. The final was played in Wembley stadium and was the first and only time England have ever reached the final. It was a back-and-forth contest, with both teams scoring and leading at certain times during the game.

In the 12th minute, the Germans scored to put themselves ahead. In the 18th minute, Geoff Hurst equalized for the English team. England scored in the 78th minute, courtesy of a goal from Martin Peters right before Wolfgang Weber equalized in the 89th minute. This sent the tie into extra time.

In the first quarter of extra time, Hurst scored his second goal of the match in the 101st minute. The goal hit the post, then bounced down onto the white line and bounced out. The goal was given, even though it didn’t fully cross the line. According to reports, the balls could have only crossed the line by 97% but not completely. This was an outrage to the German national team. Hurst then scored in the 120th minute, sealing a 4-2 victory for England. This of course can be remembered as Kenneth Wolstenholme’s famous commentary line, “They think it’s all over – It is now!”. He is the only player to have ever scored a hattrick in a World Cup final.

“The Save” Watched Round the World in 1970

In the 1970 Mexico World Cup had many appealing matches and is one of the greatest World Cup tournaments to go down in history. One of the most iconic matches in World Cup history was played in the group stage between England and Brazil. The Brazilian team had the likes of Pelé, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Carlos Alberto. However, England were defending champions and were also favourites to go a long way in the tournament.

The Brazil national team managed to beat England 1-0, courtesy of a Jairzinho goal. The big moment in the match was known as ‘The Save’. Pelé leaped up at the back post to head the ball down into the bottom corner of the goal. It was a certain goal. However, Gordon Banks, the goalkeeper of the English team, managed to dive down and claw the ball out. He denied a certain goal, particularly as it was headed by Pelé.

The other major moment in the match was a tackle by Bobby Moore. As Jairzinho was racing down the flank and into the danger area, the English centre-back timed his challenge perfectly. He managed to take the ball off of the Brazilian attacker in the most sportsman way.

Despite all the heroism shown by the English defense that day, Brazil still managed to win the match. They went on to win the 1970 Mexico World Cup by beating Italy 4-1 in the final. It was the third and final time that Pelé had won the tournament.

The 4-3 Win for Italy over West Germany in 1970

Another historical match in the 1970 saw Italy beat West Germany 4-3. The game has often been referred to as ‘the game of the century’. In the semifinals, West Germany faced Italy and were down in the 8th minute. However, in the 90th minute of the match, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger scored a late equalized. This sent the tie into extra time.

After both teams had scored a goal, the fixture became alive in the extra time period. German legend Franz Beckenbaur dislocated his shoulder but had to stay on the pitch because Germany had used up all their subs. Between the 98th to 111th minute, five goals were scored by both teams. The eventual winner, scored by Italy’s Gianni Rivera, sent Italy into the World Cup final.

The 1970 World Cup Final Victory for Brazil

In the 1970 Mexico World Cup final, Brazil faced Italy which was known for being a battle of the giants. Both teams were in exceptional form and were ultimately the best teams in the world. Pelé had opened the scoring for Brazil before the Italian equalized.

The second 45-minutes of the match saw Brazil score two more goals early on. In the 85th minute, Pelé sent right-back Carlos Alberto through on goal with a subliminal defense-splitting pass. The right-back slotted home to secure a 4-1 final victory over the Italian national team.

The Revenge of Italy in 1982

In 1982, Brazil were drawn with Italy in the group stages. The 1982 Brazilian national team were regarded as the best team to never win the World Cup. They featured the incredible stars such as Zico, Socrates and other talents. In the Italian side, the standout player was Paolo Rossi.

The Azzurri managed to record a 3-2 victory over the Brazilian giants, courtesy of a Rossi hattrick. Brazil’s two goals were scored by Socrates and Falcao. It is still known as one of the greatest World Cup games ever. The Italian national team went on to win the World Cup.

A Semifinal to Remember

In the 1982 World Cup semifinal, West Germany faced France in the semifinals. The match was a goal-fest that ended in a 3-3 draw. The German national team opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Only ten minutes later, Platini scored a penalty to tie the score. After 90 minutes of play, the match went into extra time.

The big moment in the game happened in the 60th minute. France’s forward, Patrick Battiston, was rushing towards a loose ball that was heading towards the German goal. The Germany goalkeeper, Harald Schumacher, rushed off his line to try and punch the ball out. However, the keeper did not touch the ball at all. Instead, he went full throttle into the French striker. The challenge by Schumacher left Battiston with two teeth knocked out, cracked ribs and a damaged vertebra. Schumacher did not receive any card and no foul was given. It is still a mystery to this day.

In extra time, two goals were scored by both teams to send the tie to penalties. Germany came out on top after Horst Hrubesh scored the decisive penalty, giving the Germans a 5-4 victory on spot kicks.

Diego Maradona Scores Goal of the Century and the “Hand of God”

One of the outright greatest World Cup games ever was played between England and Argentina. The 1986 Mexico World Cup saw both teams face off in the quarterfinals. Maradona, a two-time winner of the World Cup, was key to the match. He had scored both of the goals for Argentina in a 2-1 win.

The first goal was scored by the Argentine striker in the 6th minute. Maradona rushed towards a loose ball that the keeper was about the claim. He pretended to head the ball over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. However, after watching the replay, it was obvious that Maradona had actually used his hand to push the ball into the net. Maradona, who is a controversial figure, afterwards celebrated the goals and hailed his “Hand of God” moment.

In the second half, the striker showed his over more sportsman side by scoring the goal of the century. He picked up the ball in his own half and proceeded to dribble past all of the English team. The multiple Englishmen, including the goalkeeper, could not stop Maradona from dribbling past them before he slotted into an empty net. The goal has been known as ‘the goal of the century’.

The Oldest Goal Scorer in World Cup History

In the 1994 World Cup, Cameroon faced Russia in the group stage. The match is remembered for two records that were broken. The two record include the oldest ever goal scorer in a World Cup finals match and the most goals scored by a player in a match.

Cameroon vs Russia ended up as a 6-1 win for the Russian national team. Their striker, Oleg Salenko, made history by scoring five goals against the Cameroonian team. It is the most goals ever scored in a single World Cup finals match. The consolation goal for Cameroon was scored by Roger Milla. At the age of 42, Milla is the oldest goal scorer ever at the World Cup.

The Netherlands Beating Argentina in the 1998 Quarterfinals

In the 1998 World Cup quarterfinals, the Netherlands faced Argentina in one of the greatest World Cup games ever. One of the most memorable moments in World Cup history was the goal scored by Dennis Bergkamp, “the iceman” that played for Arsenal.

Following a pass from Frank de Boer, Bergkamp controlled the elevated balls with his first touch, turned the Argentinian defender with his second and shot the ball into the back of the net with his third. The move was immaculate and still remembered for its amazing skill. It only took three seconds for Bergkamp to score the exceptional goal.

The Second “Hand of God” Moment in World Cup History

In the 2010 South Africa World Cup, Ghana faced Uruguay in the quarterfinals. The match was an even game and if Ghana had advanced, they would become the first African team ever to reach the semifinals of a World Cup campaign. Unfortunately for the Black Stars, cruel fate saw them miss out on that opportunity, following a dirty bit of play from the Uruguayan team.

The scoring was opened in the first half when Ghana’s Sulley Muntari scored from 40 yards out. Early in the second half, Diego Forlan equalized for the South American team, sending the tie into extra time. The extra time period was rather dull before a last-minute twist of fate.

In the 120th minute, the Ghana national team pushed the ball towards the goal and had the keeper beat. Uruguay, defending with their lives, had two players on the line. One of them was Luis Suarez. He used his hand to punch the ball out and stop a certain goal. This time round, the referee saw the handball and sent Suarez off, awarding Ghana with a penalty.

The penalty taker, Asamoah Gyan, had the chance to send Ghana to the semifinals and make history for the African continent. Unfortunately, he smashed the ball onto the post and the tie went into extra time. Suarez was seen celebrating this penalty miss after his sportsmanship behaviour. In the penalty shootout, Gyan scored his penalty, but the Ghanaian team lost. Uruguay advanced to the semifinals.

A 5-1 Humiliation and the Flying Dutchman

The 2010 World Cup final saw Spain defeat the Netherlands in a 1-0 victory, courtesy of an Andrés Iniesta goal in extra time. In the 2014 Brazil World Cup, the two nations were drawn together in the group stage. Spain were favourites to win as defending champions and opened the scoring after a Xabi Alonso penalty.

Surprisingly, the Netherlands shocked the world by scoring one of the greatest World Cup goals of all time. Daley Blind floated the ball from the half way line towards the unmarked Robin Van Persie to set up a one-on-one with the Spanish goalkeeper. Whilst Van Persie was waiting for the ball to drop, he instinctively jumped in an unusual manner and sent the ball looping over Iker Casillas. The goal has been known as ‘the flying dutchman’ because of its incredible viewing.

The Netherlands were not finished though. They went on to score four more goals and beat the Spanish team 5-1. The result saw the Netherlands top the group and advance to the semifinals of the competition. The Spanish team were knocked out in the group stage.

Brazilian Tears in the 2014 World Cup Semifinals

The 2014 World Cup was hosted in Brazil and the national team had made it to the semifinals. Their star player, Neymar could not play. The Brazilian team faced Germany, who were also tipped as favourites as they had a fantastic team.

In a surprising turn of events, Germany scored a spree of goals and won the match 7-1. They were leading 5-0 at half time and the match was over as a contest in the 30th minute. It was a total domination from the German side and even had a historical moment. The opening goal was scored by Miroslav Klose. This made him the outright top goal scorer at the World Cup finals with 16 goals, beating the previous record of 15 held by Luis Ronaldo.

The defeat was the largest ever semifinal defeat in World Cup history. It is also the biggest defeat that Brazil has ever suffered. The consolation goal they scored was in the 90th minute to bring the score line to 7-1. Germany went on to beat Argentina in the final and win their fourth World Cup.

To Conclude on the Greatest World Cup Games Ever

The 2022 Qatar World Cup will certainly want to have its mark on World Cup history. It is unlikely that we are going to see a game quite as good as the ones above. But then again, never say never! To become part of the greatest World Cup games ever, there has to be some incredible matches.

The World Cup has a rich history in unbelievable moments. After all, it is the greatest sports competition of all-time. To tune in to the 2022 Qatar World Cup, we advise you to read our Ultimate World Cup betting guide for an insight on all of the best games.

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