The FIFA World Cup is the most prestigious tournament in the world of football. Every four years, teams from around the globe gather to compete for the ultimate prize. While winning the World Cup is undoubtedly the dream of every player and team, it is the goals scored in the tournament that remain etched in fans’ memories for years to come.
Over the years, the World Cup has produced some of the most iconic goals in the history of football. These goals have been etched in fans’ memories and are talked about long after the tournament has ended. In this article, we take a look at the five most iconic World Cup goals ever scored.
Carlos Alberto vs. Italy (1970)
The 1970 Brazil team is considered one of the greatest teams of all time, and their emphatic goal against Italy in the final remains the most iconic World Cup goal ever scored. After a threatening Italian attack, the Brazilian side launched a counter-attack that resulted in a sensational team goal.
After combining with players around him, Clodoaldo went past three defenders before passing it to Rivelino, whose long pass found Jairzinho. Jairzinho cut inside from the right, found Pele on the edge of the box, who held his breath and his pass, and at the perfect moment released Carlos Alberto to finish a thumping World Cup goal. Also check out “The Top 5 Most Incredible Moments in the World Cup“
Diego Maradona vs. England (1986)
Diego Maradona is widely considered one of the greatest football players in history. In the 1986 quarter-final match against England, Maradona scored two goals that could have made this list for their iconic status.
Firstly, he scored the infamous “Hand of God” goal. However, it was his second goal that will go down in history as one of the greatest goals ever scored. Maradona picked up the ball in his own half and went past five England defenders with ease. He glided and danced with the whole world in awe before dodging the goalkeeper and putting the ball into the empty net.
Geoff Hurst vs. West Germany (1966)
The 1966 World Cup final at Wembley saw England and West Germany face off in a truly iconic match. The game was tied at 2-2, and as the match went into extra time, Geoff Hurst went through and launched a shot from the right side that hit the bar and bounced down before the keeper collected it. The Swiss referee decided that it had crossed the line and awarded Geoff Hurst a goal that would prove to be a talking point for decades to come.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Spain (2018)
The Spain vs. Portugal fixture in the 2018 World Cup was one of the matches of the tournament, and there was one certain Portuguese who rose to the occasion. Cristiano Ronaldo had a free-kick opportunity just outside the box, with the game tied at 3-3 in the 90th minute. He took the shot that dipped in the top right corner to leave David De Gea stranded. It was his first World Cup hat trick and a World Cup for the world to remember him by.
Robin Van Persie vs. Spain (2014)
The 2014 World Cup saw the Dutch come to the tournament with the spirit of revenge after losing the World Cup final to Spain in the previous tournament. In their opening match, they faced the defending champions, who got an early lead through Xabi Alonso. However, it was the Dutch who kept the pressure up and eventually broke Spain’s resistance.
Daley Blind executed the most majestic long ball for Robin Van Persie. The Dutch forward acrobatically headed the ball on the first attempt to catch Iker Casillas
by surprise. The floodgates opened after this equalizer, and the Netherlands finished the match with an astonishing 5-1 scoreline. Van Persie’s exceptional position to leave Casillas and the whole crowd speechless is still remembered by football fans worldwide.
Final Thoughts
These iconic World Cup goals have stood the test of time and remain relevant in every football fan’s memory to date. They are a testament to the skill, creativity, and passion that the game of football brings to the world. As we look forward to the next World Cup, we can only hope that it will produce more iconic goals that will live on in our memories for years to come.
Did we miss any other iconic goal that you think deserves a spot on this list? Let us know in the comments below.
