The 50 greatest World Cup goals of all time

Paul Macdonald

• 4 Mar 2026 10:01 CST
• 26 min read

News

Only a select few human beings in history have ever experienced the glory of scoring a goal at a World Cup, a childhood dream for many of us.

From wonder strikes to tap-ins to mesmerising solo runs, every World Cup goal is special for one reason or another.

In this article, we count down the 50 greatest World Cup goals ever scored—moments of magic delivered by icons and unlikely heroes alike. These are the goals that made commentators lose their voices, sent nations into rapture, and reminded the world why the beautiful game captivates billions.

50. Eric Wynalda: USA 1-1 Switzerland, USA, 1994

We lead with the 2026 and 1994 hosts, and it’s easy to forget that there was real fear in the US that they would be embarrassed by their admittedly tricky group of Romania, Colombia and Switzerland.

And going one down to the Swiss did nothing to quell that until Wynalda stepped up. He is extremely far out, right on the limit of even attempting a curling effort. But boy does he find his spot, right in the top corner despite the best efforts of the goalkeeper. Wynalda’s celebration expressed the relief that a nation could compete, and compete well, as hosts.

49. Saeed Al-Owairan: SAUDI ARABIA 1-0 Belgium, USA, 1994

Yes, it is almost certainly overrated by every one of these lists ever created. But credit has to go to Al-Owairan for simply making it to the goal.

This is one of those individual efforts that is the antithesis of Diego Maradona. He’s never, at any point, in control of the ball during his run but yet makes it past multiple tackles before somehow, improbably, sliding the ball home. But he gains full marks for spirit and application.

48. Rivelino: BRAZIL 1-0 East Germany, West Germany ,1974

There’s loads of Brazil goals you could add which would be equally worthy; Garrincha against England in 1962, Socrates against USSR in 1982, Josimar in 1986, but we’ve selected this ingenious effort from a World Cup great.

It’s an understatement to say that Brazil in 1974 is not their finest vintage. But Rivelino was still potent, that left peg working to innovative effect here. He sends two Brazilian players into the wall then proceeded to fire the ball directly at them. They duly ducked, to allow his free kick to fly into the net. For the time, a completely unique and innovative attempt.

47. Asamoah Gyan: GHANA 2-1 USA (aet), South Africa, 2010

The heartache Ghana endured in their quarter-final against Uruguay, Gyan missing a penalty in the final minute, took some of the shine from the utterly relentless match with the USA from the previous round, in which Gyan was the hero.

Gyan tracks a long ball that never truly lands properly for him and yet always manages to be in the right spot. He chests it into his path and as the defender moves to block he just takes that extra beat to steady himself and lash home the volley. The Black Stars were jubilant, becoming only the third side after Cameroon and Senegal to reach the quarter-final stage.

46. Marco Tardelli: ITALY 3-1 West Germany, Spain, 1982

There is probably no more iconic a celebration in the history of the event than Tardelli’s shaking face, arms and torso as the realisation of what his goal achieved for his nation, in the 1982 World Cup final.

Tardelli collects the ball on the edge of the area and shifts it quickly to his left foot before firing low into the corner, then simply sets off running on his own. Italy started slow, but ended the tournament all guns blazing.

45. Mathieu Valbuena: FRANCE 5-2 Switzerland, Brazil, 2014

France’s 2014 tournament ended with a whimper, losing 1-0 in a dire affair to Germany, but they had built up good momentum with their performances in the group stages, particularly the demolition of a good Swiss side.

The highlight was this sweeping move showing just how devastating they could be on the counter, topped off by Olivier Giroud laying on a perfect cross to the path of Valbuena, who converts into the net. It never stops for breath as all good counterattack goals should do, and was a precursor to the France side’s recent international dominance.

44. Geoff Hurst: ENGLAND 4-2 West Germany, England, 1966

The final itself hasn’t often been the home of the greatest goals and tend to be cagey affairs, with low scores and penalties the order of the day.

But, as much as Hurst claimed afterwards he simply wanted to clear the ball as far as possible in the dying minutes of injury time, he instead created history. Chesting the ball down on the break he meanders towards goal, exhausted, and cracks his shot right into the top corner to give England their one, and only, World Cup triumph.

43. Janok Farkas: HUNGARY 3-1 Brazil, England, 1966

The story of Brazil’s disaster in 1966 needs a piece all of its own, with Pele largely kicked out of the event, but against Hungary, Brazil were fundamentally outplayed, and Farkas’ goal was one that Brazil themselves would have been proud of.

A cross slung in from wide by Albert Bene splits the Brazilian defenders and Farkas, with all the time to bring the ball down, instead opts for legend status, catching the cross so sweetly, so impeccably on the volley to arrow it into the bottom corner and provide a crushing blow to the Brazilian chances of qualifying. Even in the grainy footage available, the quality is undeniable.

42. Nelson Cuevas: PARAGUAY 3-1 Slovenia, Japan and South Korea, 2002

Paraguay’s World Cup involvement generally involves knockout defeat in the cruellest way; a Laurent Blanc Golden Goal in 1998, a missed penalty against Spain in 2010, and eventually, in 2002 when a late German goal from Oliver Neuville ended their run. But in the group stage, we had Nelson Cuevas.

A goal down and a man down, they were heading out of the tournament until Cuevas arrived. He scored a great equaliser before his unbelievable second, shimmying twice and cutting inside two defenders before hammering his shot home off the underside of the crossbar. Paraguay needed this goal to get through, and Cuevas achieved it - with his first and second-ever international goals.

41. Raul: SPAIN 2-3 Nigeria, France, 1998

The 1998 World Cup is not one the Spanish will remember fondly, not least the damaging 3-2 defeat to a brilliant Nigeria side in their opening match.

Sunday Oliseh’s thunderbolt is memorable but Raul’s goal in the same match is far better; a deep cross to the back post finds Raul peeling off the defender, and he meets the ball with consummate technique and precision to sidefoot past the goalkeeper. The level of understanding of timing and craft here is at the highest level possible.

40. Eder: BRAZIL 2-1 USSR, Spain, 1982

There’s a reason why Brazil, as a team, dominates this list, and it’s because the World Cup probably doesn’t become the World Cup, as we know it, without them.

To the point where even the teams that don’t win it, or even necessarily come close, remain revered to this day, none more so than the 1982 incarnation, starring the incredible Eder.

His exquisite chip against Scotland was another highlight but this is a simply Brazilian goal at its heart. A ball from wide is casually stepped over by Falcao for the onrushing Eder, whose first touch loops the ball up for him to smash his volley relentlessly into the net.

39. Pele: BRAZIL 4-1 Italy, Mexico, 1970

If you were to pick any one screenshot to represent Pele in the World Cup, you could do worse than watching him in the air, #10 on his back, smashing his header into the net in the 1970 World Cup final.

The cross has virtually no pace, hanging in the air, yet Pele is able to generate supreme power to get up early and now downwards into the corner, to ecstatic celebrations. Pele, for the record, scored a great header against France in the 1958 semi, too - but this one might outlast the World Cup itself.

38. Ricardo Quaresma: PORTUGAL 1-1 Iran, Russia, 2018

A skill becomes a trademark the more a player executes it to perfection, and the trivela and Ricardo Quaresma are now permanently associated.

Quaresma pulled off this move to devastating effect more than once in his career, but arguably never better than against Iran. Quaresma cuts inside from the right and though the ball seems slightly stuck in his feet, he’s able to scoop his outside-of-the-right-book trivela into the air, and down into the top corner. It’s a sublime effort.

37. Ronaldo: BRAZIL 2-0 Germany, Japan and South Korea, 2002

Ronaldo’s tournament of redemption after the 1998 final and years of knee injuries culminated in the final in Yokohama.

R9 was already on six goals for the tournament before netting his seventh earlier in the final from a rebound, but this was pure class from a Brazil team that were comfortably best at the tournament. A low cross sees Rivaldo - so often in sync with Ronaldo - step over the ball to allow the latter to control and expertly guide his low shot into the corner of the net, a fitting collaboration between two players that dominated South American football in the period.

Shame about Ronaldo’s haircut, though.

36. Salif Diao: SENEGAL 1-1 Denmark, Japan and South Korea, 2002

If we’re splitting this list into goal types we have the prospect of team goals, and this one from Diao and Senegal in 2002 is one of the least-remembered moments of their run to the quarter-finals.

A brilliant flick inside from El-Hadji Diouf to Diao begins the move - the two would move to Liverpool together after the tournament - and the midfielder gallops forward, shifting to Khalilou Fadiga on the left. Diao continues his run through the middle and Fadiga finds him with a precise pass into his path. Diao takes a touch and prods his shot into the corner - the full upfield burst took around four seconds to execute.

35. Yordan Letchkov: BULGARIA 2-1 Germany, USA, 1994

Bulgaria had never won a World Cup match before 1994 - and then they went all the way to the semi-final. Hristo Stoichkov was the Ballon d’Or winning star of the side, but the iconic play was courtesy of his balding compatriot, Letchkov.

Stoichkov had just equalised against the Germans minutes before, then a deep cross into the box saw Letchkov muscle his way into position and dive full-length to glance the ball into the net and stun the reigning champions. Running away with his hand in the air, Letchkov’s head, in more ways than one, was an abiding memory of the tournament.

34. Joe Cole: ENGLAND 2-2 Sweden, Germany, 2006

England in 2006 were stolid and uninspiring; they defeated Paraguay courtesy of an own goal before toiling to take out Trinidad and Tobago. Their last group match with Sweden, however, was fun, and lives on courtesy of Cole’s improbable volley.

After a deep corner is cleared, Cole chests the ball upwards fully 35 yards out and strikes the ball on the angle, sending it across the goalkeeper and in off the far post. England’s tournament burned out pretty quickly from here but Cole’s goal has stood the test of time.

33. Pierre Njanka: CAMEROON 1-1 Austria, France, 1998

99% of Cameroon’s World Cup heritage falls at the feet of the 1990 version of the Indomitable Lions, but there’s a bit more to them than that; they exited without losing a game in 1982, and in 1998 were a goal away from knocking out Chile to progress.

In that tournament Njanka scored a quite brilliant goal. In a tepid game he picked the ball up 40 yards from goal and just decided to see where his run would take him, slaloming through challenges before deftly cutting back at the end to lash the ball into the top corner.

It was a quite brilliant solo goal that deserves to be remembered far more than it has been in the years since.

32. Zinedine Zidane: FRANCE 3-1 Spain, Germany, 2006

Zidane was unquestionably a moments player, particularly at World Cups; anonymous for much of 1998 only to net two headers in the final; and was largely ineffectual as France struggled to escape from the group stage in 2006, but against Spain came completely to life and stayed there for the rest of the tournament.

This clinching goal against a superb Spain team topped off a captain’s display; catching out the offside trap, he bares down on goal before having the presence of mind to cut back inside onrushing defender to drive his shot into the net past Iker Casillas.

31. Roberto Baggio: ITALY 2-0 CZECHOSLOVAKIA, Italy, 1990

Baggio joins Pele as the only men to have more than one entry on this list, and this one doubled as an announcement to the Divine Ponytail to the world stage.

The Czech were an excellent side - they would reach the last eight - but Baggio brilliantly took them apart. Collecting the ball just inside the Czech half, he bobbed and weaved and moved and sent defenders every other way other than where he travelled to, before delivering the same outcome to the goalkeeper, hooking his shot back across him into the corner.

30. Gheorghe Hagi: ROMANIA 3-1 Colombia, USA, 1994

A sure-fire way to know if someone means a goal, or a skill, is if they can do it more than once, and Hagi’s sublime strike here is one he’s pulled off multiple times across his storied career.

Hagi knew exactly where a goalkeeper would position themselves in the box if they were anticipating a cross, and then ping his shot right over their head. Oscar Cordoba can just stand and watch as Hagi took him out, like a long-range sniper, from 40 yards.

29. Siphiwe Tshabalalala: SOUTH AFRICA 1-1 Mexico, South Africa, 2010

The opening match of the World Cup has had some great moments. Francois Oman Biyik against Argentina, Papa Bouba Diop against France, Thorsten Frings’ rocket against Costa Rica - but the best goal of all is, no doubt, Tshabalala’s dream goal in 2010.

A fast counterattack saw the ball reach a difficult angle for the midfielder but instead of holding the ball up, Tshabalalala simply rolled the Jabulani ball roulette machine and won big, his shot fizzing into the top corner, to the sound of chaos inside the stadium. A unifying moment AND goal combined into one of the abiding memories of what was, in truth, not a great World Cup.

28. Klaus Fischer: WEST GERMANY 3-3 France (pens), Spain, 1982

At first viewing of Fischer’s impudent overhead kick it may not seem all that, but the context of the chaos that comes around it makes it really special.

France had survived the attempted murder of Patrick Battiston by the supervillainy of German keeper Toni Schumacher - Google it - and had gone into a seemingly unassailable 3-1 lead in extra-time before the Germans did something that became their trademark - to never know when they are beaten. A German header back across the box is set to land around the penalty spot before Fischer adjusts his body brilliantly to get underneath and scoop his overhead kick into the net. It’s a superb piece of innovation from the forward.

27. Ronaldinho: BRAZIL 2-1 England, Japan and South Korea, 2002

This goal is Schrodinger's free-kick; it both simultaneously lives and doesn’t live on this list and whether he actually meant it or not. If there’s any player who would have been capable of it in the entire tournament, it is him, and for that he gets the benefit of the doubt.

David Seaman is left unfurled in the net trying to reach his free-kick that flies over his head and into the top corner, and Ronaldinho’s celebration does have a certain ‘look what I just did’ vibe. But there’s just enough of a sliver of doubt - is it too perfect for where he put it? - that means it can take its place here, right in the middle of the good and the great.

26. Roberto Baggio: ITALY 2-1 Bulgaria, USA, 1994

1994 was a tournament of two halves for the enigmatic Baggio; substituted and ineffectual in the group stage, he came to life in wins over Nigeria and Spain, and then in the semi-final produced his magnus opus, in six spellbinding World Cup minutes.

His second goal is almost equally good, his half-volley of Demetrio Albertini’s pass is placed perfectly inside the post. But his first showcases his talent, shielding the ball from one defender before breezing past another and bending his shot - as he did regularly - into the far corner of the net.

25. Pele: BRAZIL 5-2 France, Sweden, 1958

His iconic strike in the final shows a maturity beyond his years, but Pele’s bludgeoning of a very good France team, led by Just Fontaine, in the semi-finals was the proper introduction to Pele’s greatness.

Collecting a ball seamlessly into his path with a knee high into the air, he catches the dropping ball so sweetly and unerringly drives it into the corner of the net. With nearly 70 years of goals, it is difficult to comprehend that what Pele did in ‘58 was light years ahead of his time, and that’s what made him so exciting to watch.

24. Richarlison: BRAZIL 2-0 Serbia, Qatar, 2022

Like 1990, the 2022 World Cup was not one of great goals. Indeed Messi’s assists against the Netherlands and Croatia were more notable than most of the strikes we saw. But Richarlison’s inspired control and scissor kick would have been centre-stage at any tournament.

Taking Vinicius Jr’s cross out of the air, he stays laser-focused on the arc of the ball and turns his body in mid-air, volleying with supreme style into the corner. Manuel Negrete did similar for Mexico in 1986, but Richarlison showed another level of technique.

23. Lionel Messi: ARGENTINA 2-1 Nigeria, Russia, 2018

Messi’s winter of glory in 2022 can be defined primarily by penalties, and then by a series of completely iconic assists, rather than a great goal, and we have to go back to arguably his weakest World Cup - in 2018 - to find a completely fantastic goal.

Argentina were not good in 2018, and were indeed heading out if they failed to beat Nigeria. Messi hadn’t been in the game but then in a single manoeuvre came to life in an atypical way. Messi controls an Ever Banega pass drilled into him on his thigh, and in one moment negotiated the ball back into his path, giving him due time to execute his shot - on his right foot - across the goalkeeper and into the net. It’s not a goal you’d expect, and yet you remember, Messi is capable of most things with a football.

22. David Platt: ENGLAND 1-0 Belgium (AET), Italy, 1990

Italia 90 is a tournament most remembered on a vibes basis; the football was dull and the goals, pretty ordinary. Lothar Matthaus against Yugoslavia and the veteran Roger Milla against Colombia provided notable efforts, but the best single effort of the tournament is undoubtedly Platt’s improvisational swivel-and-volley in the last minute of extra-time against Belgium.

Paul Gascoigne dinks a free-kick to the back post and it looks to perhaps be going too far, but Platt watches it all the way onto his foot and brings his volley back around across the goalkeeper, catching it right on the money. It flies into the net, and cue joyous celebrations. A great snapshot in a tournament that enjoyed too little of them.

21. Giovanni van Bronckhorst: NETHERLANDS 3-2 Uruguay, South Africa, 2010

The much-maligned Jabulani ball which tormented many a goalkeeper - and the accuracy of many a forward, for that matter - served one good purpose; to allow for this completely improbable Van Bronckhorst goal. Unless you are Uruguayan, of course.

Van Bronckhorst is at an unfeasible angle, a million miles away for goal, and yet chooses to shoot, and shoot he does, the ball swerving three different ways before connecting, with complete and absolute exactness to the post and into the top corner. The Dutch have form with this - Arie Haan’s 1978 blockbuster was similarly far out - but this one had such perfect accuracy that 10 goalkeepers wouldn’t have got to it.

20. Alessandro Del Piero: ITALY 2-0 Germany, Germany, 2006

The Fabio Grosso goal that precedes this is undoubtedly laced with more drama, but Del Piero’s clincher tied a satisfying bow on perhaps the last quintessential Italian performance the World Cup has ever seen.

Grosso’s extra-time goal meant Germany, the hosts, were chasing the game but simply could not get past Fabio Cannavaro. The defender chases down one of his own clearances to make a heroic header and from there, the counterattack is on. Alberto Gilardino’s reverse pass into Del Piero is perhaps one of THE great World Cup passes that is three yards or less, and Del Piero’s nonchalant curl into the top corner merely rubber-stamped the moment. And Cannavaro pretty much secured the Ballon d’Or for the year with one move.

19. Nelinho: BRAZIL 2-1 Italy, Argentina, 1978

Sometimes a goal doesn’t have to be clever or individual - it’s just worth marvelling at the greatness behind the strike, and Nelinho’s ball-bending brilliance in the third-place playoff in 1978 absolutely qualifies.

It was a game of great goals; Dirceu’s winning half-volley is also well worth seeking out. But back in 1978 people simply didn’t shoot from where Nelinho lines it up from - and yet, moving onto the ball at the corner of the area, he launches his foot through it at the perfect angle of swerve for the ball to veer into the net off the far post. Dino Zoff’s incredulous glance at him as he lies in the box with the ball behind him in the net says all the words necessary for this wonder-strike.

18. Jared Borghetti: MEXICO 1-1 Italy, Japan & South Korea, 2002

It’s difficult for a header to be truly unique - unless you are Robin van Persie. But Borghetti put his own spin on the header-round-the-corner that is one of the smartest finishes you’ll ever see.

Stakes were high here and both sides had to win to make 100% sure of qualifying, and Borghetti drew first blood. The cross into the area finds him three yards beyond the near post and with virtually no outs, and yet his glance over his shoulder made time stop still, with Gianluigi Buffon standing watching in admiration at the effort. A truly brilliant header that has transcended the tournament in more ways than one.

17. Fernando Torres: SPAIN 4-0 Ukraine, Germany, 2006

A somewhat underrated World Cup classic here as Spain were starting to show the signs of the team that would dominate international football from 2008-2012, and this dismantling of a Ukraine team that would, ironically, go a round further than them in the tournament will always feel like a could-have-been moment.

Carles Puyol’s swashbuckling run from deep even includes a pirouette before Torres slips the ball to Cesc Fabregas, who fires a pass into Puyol, at chest height, who had continued his run into the area. His header is perfect back into Torres' path, who takes great delight in lashing home a brilliant half-volley, putting the stamp on a signature performance, and a look at things to come.

16. Archie Gemmill: SCOTLAND 3-2 Netherlands, Argentina, 1978

A goal that almost became the most important in Scottish football history because of its importance actually became it accidentally as the perfect example of Scotland never quite getting it done, despite the immense talent available to a small nation.

Gemmill collects the ball on the wing and it already feels like he is floating; a double nutmeg and a curling finish later and one of the true great individual goals had been scored. Scotland were two goals clear against one of the best sides in the world; it would be as close as they would ever get to knockout football.

15. Nacer Chadli: BELGIUM 3-2 Japan, Russia, 2018

One of the most dramatic comebacks in World Cup history, Belgium looked dead and buried at 2-0 down to a smart Japanese side who had their number for 70 minutes.

And even after Belgium were able to drag themselves back to 2-2, Japan went all out for a late corner, only to be suckerpunched by the most classic of all classic counterattacks.

Kevin De Bruyne’s lung-exploding 60-yard run this late in the game is to be marvelled at, Thomas Meunier’s low cross is heading for Romelu Lukaku but he shows first-class awareness to step over the ball and allow Nacer Chadli to have the simplest, yet one of the greatest, World Cup fast breaks ever.

14. Teofilo CUBILLAS: PERU 3-1 Scotland, Argentina, 1978

Limited footage of old tournaments can elevate lesser goals, but for some you just need to let the video speak for itself, and Cubillas’ goal is absolutely in that category.

Scotland, the victims of their own naive hubris thinking they could win the full thing, came down to Earth with a deft flick of the outside of Cubillas’ boot. The winger’s free-kick would be unique and innovative at any time and at any level, let alone in a World Cup AND in 1978. Stepping up at the angle, the expected left foot shot is replaced by an outside-of-the-left-boot curler that left everyone completely deceived, not least Scotland’s hapless keeper, Alan Rough. Pure genius from an unequivocal World Cup legend.

13. Maxi Rodriguez: ARGENTINA 2-1 Mexico, Germany, 2006

Argentina provided us many momentous moments in 2006; Juan Roman Riquelme’s pass to Javier Saviola v Cote d’Ivoire; Cambiasso’s dream-like team goal; Messi’s first-ever World Cup goal. And this from the James Rodriguez school of chest of volley carried off to spectacular effect.

Mexico’s Round of 16 curse looked like it might be coming to an end, competing well with Argentina throughout and taking the game to extra-time. But then Rodriguez produced the moment of moments, a chest high in the air, the whole of Buenos Aires watching the ball spiral downwards onto his foot for a sweet connection into the top left-hand corner. Unfortunately, Argentina had no more to give against old adversary Germany in the next round, but man, were they fun to be around that summer.

12. Benjamin Pavard: FRANCE 4-3 Argentina, Russia, 2018

A match much more thrilling in theory than in actuality, France and Kylian Mbappe in particular were infinitely superior to a stunted, Messi-led Argentina, but it took a full-back to solidify that dominance with an utterly unique striking of a football.

Pavard runs onto a loose ball dropping at the edge of the area and slices across it with exquisite form, sending the ball on a beautiful, hypnotic arc into the corner of the net. France were worthy winners in 2018 but this match was still in the balance before Pavard’s class swung the pendulum in favour of Les Bleus.

11. Tim Cahill - AUSTRALIA 2-3 Netherlands, Brazil, 2014

Australia were fun if ultimately feeble in the 2014 tournament, none more so than the type of goal that’s so outrageous to attempt it gains 10 points simply for the effort.

But Cahill not only pulls it off, does so in sensational style, meeting a high and largely hopeful cross with precision timing on the angle, hitting his volley hard and true and in off the crossbar. Australia would go home with no points, so how good could a meaningless goal be? The answer is THIS good.

10. Johan Cruyff - NETHERLANDS 2-0 Brazil, West Germany, 1974

The prime majesty of Cruyff only ever graced one World Cup - but what a World Cup. It’s no exaggeration to say the movements among Total Football’s orange jerseys turned a full generation onto the sport, and it culminated with Cruyff’s masterful changing-of-the-guard goal against an obstinate Brazil side.

Ruud Krol gallops down the left and fires a perfect cross onto the foot of Cruyff, whose body looks contorted as he hits the volley, but he is a man very much in control of the situation. He sidefoots expertly home and and sets off in celebration in front of a crowd hanging on his every move, especially his famous turn.

9. Dario Rodriguez - URUGUAY 1-2 Denmark, Japan & South Korea, 2002

Can goals be great even if they mean nothing? They can’t be as important to the narrative of an event for sure, but they can equally be so brilliant that they require everyone to simply stand and applaud.

A group stage defeat for Uruguay was elevated to celestial levels by Rodriguez, but half the work belongs to the assist. Pablo Garcia captures a cross on his left foot before kneeing and then flicking the ball temptingly into the path of Rodriguez, who stepped forward to crash a sensational left-foot volley into the top corner. From the initial corner the ball doesn’t touch the floor, and it would prove the high point of a group-stage exit for the South Americans.

8. Michael Owen - ENGLAND 2-2 Argentina (pens), France, 1998

There’s a tingle at the top of the spine when you know you’re witnessing greatness emerge, and Owen’s quicksilver effort definitely gives off those vibes. Watching a barely 18-year-old kid rip through a formidable Argentine defence with what looks like effortless ease was astonishing then and has stood the test of time to a huge degree.

The touch with the outside of the foot to start the run, the slide past Roberto Ayala - the cruel victim of two stunning goals in the same tournament - and the pass into the top corner from an angle became instantly iconic. Three years later, he won the Ballon d’Or, and that was pretty much it. The ascent was nearly as fleeting as how long it took him to execute this goal.

7. Pele - BRAZIL 5-2 Sweden, Sweden, 1958

Due to the time period and limited footage, so much of what we know of Pele is the impact he had on the World Cup, and none more so than in the final in 1958, aged just 17.

Check, flick, volley, goal, he makes it all look so incredibly easy on a heavy pitch with a heavy ball, a testament to his prominence and, ultimately, eventual genius. The flick, on a high arc, the timing of the volley, in grainy, black-and-white footage, feels like a goal from the future at a time when the conventional style wasn’t for the individual to be quite as good as this. He would prove over the next 12 years it was anything but a fluke.

6. Esteban Cambiasso - ARGENTINA 6-1 Serbia & Montenegro, Germany, 2006

The team goal to end all team goals, apart from the top of this list. Argentina were a team in complete control of their tempo and style in 2006, and they definitely rank among some of the greatest XIs not to have won it - indeed, as this goal shows, they were arguably better than the teams that triumphed in 1968, 1986 and even 2022.

Countless passes from all positions spread all across the pitch, Cambiasso enters the fray to put the seal on the spell of possession football against a Serbia & Montenegro team that had been fantastic defensively in qualifying. He studs the ball down into the path for the 25th pass of the move, with Hernan Crespo providing the 26th with a backheel to allow Cambiasso to lash into the net. Unfortunately for this team, perfection came just a little too early in the tournament.

5. James Rodriguez - COLOMBIA 2-0 Uruguay, Brazil, 2014

Rodriguez made the 2014 World Cup his own, scoring six goals and securing a move to Real Madrid afterwards, and you can’t help wonder if this strike was on repeat in president Florentino Perez’s office.

It is simply box office. Rodriguez has a quick look to see where the defender is located, before cheating towards goal and lashing an unstoppable left-footed volley into the net, kissing the crossbar in such a satisfying way that simply adds to the majesty. The technique required to chest, pivot, and strike in a single manoeuvre - in a key knockout game, no less - makes it all the more special.

4. Robin Van Persie - NETHERLANDS 5-1 Spain, Brazil, 2014

It’s hard to properly comprehend how seismic this result was, the Dutch utterly destroying the reigning champions in a style never seen before. Harder still to see that they were a goal down in the match before Van Persie’s full-scale dive to head home an equaliser in the same match.

Daley Blind’s long cross finds Van Persie unmarked and after contemplating bringing it down for the longest time, he finally makes the right call that the ball is too high, and so he needs to head it. And head it he does, looping his effort perfectly over the static Iker Casillas from fully 20 yards and into the net, almost in slow motion. It’s hard to think of a goal remotely like it.

3. Dennis Bergkamp - NETHERLANDS 2-1 Argentina, France, 1998

Jack van Gelder, the Dutch commentator, produced one of the most iconic moments in history as he attempted to attach words to Bergkamp’s barely plausible goal, before instead giving up ‘DENNIS BERGKAMP’ and yelling with joy.

Set the scene - the closing minutes of a classic World Cup match between two storied nations, when Frank De Boer’s raking left-footed pass lands perfectly onto Bergkamp’s right boot. The second touch instantaneously takes him inside Roberto Ayala, before he nonchalantly flicks into the top corner. Bergkamp drops to his knees in disbelief at what he’s just done. It’s the perfect piece of control in the perfect moment.

2. Diego Maradona - ARGENTINA 2-1 England, Mexico, 1986

The ultimate moment of individual brilliance so difficult to comprehend it doesn’t feel real. Maradona’s turn, drag and shimmy before setting off on his way, prodding the ball ever closer to goal with each step on the uneven, bobbly surface, yet in perfect control. England players, including Terry Butcher twice, sweat in the heat as they try to catch him but they aren’t getting there. He steps to the side of Peter Shilton and prods into the empty net.

‘You have to say that’s fantastic’ said BBC commentator Barry Davies, beautifully understated, and almost certainly because the ‘Hand of God’ goal from Diego had arrived just three minutes earlier. It’s unparalleled genius from one of the greatest to ever do it.

1. Carlos Alberto - BRAZIL 4-1 Italy, Mexico 1970

It’s hard for sport to transcend the sport. You’ve got to do something really goddamn special for that to happen. And yet, the hazy footage of yellow shirts dancing through blue ones. Clodoaldo’s shuffle through four of them. Jairzinho’s directness, even late in a final already won. Pele’s pause and perfect pass. The little bobble. The cleanest of strikes. The nuclear explosion of net as ball hits it. It’s all burned into the memory and it deserves to be.

Yes, Italy were beaten already, and shattered after a gruelling semi-final against West Germany. But it’s the apotheosis of Brazilian football in 15 thrilling seconds, and it sets up what the rest of the 20th century looks like.