The World Cup finals have produced more than 2,500 goals and some of the most famous moments in football history down the years. With the final countdown to the 2026 edition now on, we rank the greatest World Cup goals from 10 to one.
Roberto Baggio - Italy v Czechoslovakia (1990)
10. ROBERTO BAGGIO - ITALY V CZECHOSLOVAKIA (1990)
All eyes were on Baggio at the 1990 World Cup , the 23-year-old having recently joined Juventus from Fiorentina in a world-record £8million transfer, and the ‘Divine Ponytail’ did not disappoint - with his effort against Czechoslovakia the crowning glory.
Needing a win to pip the Czechs to top spot in Group A, Italy took an early lead through Toto Schillaci but had to wait until 12 minutes from time for Baggio to shatter the growing tension in Rome with a goal for the ages.
Baggio received the ball on the halfway line, played a one-two with Giuseppe Giannini before weaving his way into the Czech area and clinically finishing, earning Italy a 2-0 win and Baggio the Goal of the Tournament .
Saeed Al-Owairan - Saudi Arabia v Belgium (1994)
9. SAEED AL-OWAIRAN - SAUDI ARABIA V BELGIUM (1994)
Saudi Arabia did not quality for the World Cup until 1994 but made the most of their opportunity when it finally arrived as they reached the last 16. The lasting memory from the Arabian Falcons was Al-Owairan's brilliant fifth-minute solo goal to beat Belgium in Washington .
After Enzo Scifo ’s miscontrol gifted possession to Saudi Arabia on the edge of their box, the ball was quickly moved to Al-Owairan and, running from inside his own half, he held off four Belgium players before lifting his shot past Michel Preudhomme .
Michael Owen - England v Argentina (1998)
8. MICHAEL OWEN - ENGLAND V ARGENTINA (1998)
England’s 1998 round-of-16 clash with old foes Argentina was incident-packed from almost the first whistle, and teenage star Owen was front and centre. The game was only 16 minutes gone but had already seen two goals, Alan Shearer ’s penalty cancelling out Gabriel Batistuta ’s spot-kick, when the Liverpool youngster produced his moment of magic.
The 18-year-old neatly collected David Beckham ’s pass, showed strength, speed and skill to race into the Argentina box before drilling a rising shot past Carlos Roa to put England 2-1 up . Beckham’s subsequent red card and Argentina’s win on penalties would end up taking the gloss off Owen’s goal, but it remains up there with the best in World Cup history.
Carlos Alberto - Brazil v Italy (1970)
7. CARLOS ALBERTO - BRAZIL V ITALY (1970)
Watch any World Cup highlights reel and Carlos Alberto’s effort for Brazil against Italy in the 1970 final is sure to be among the collection.
Leading 3-1 going into the last four minutes in Mexico City , Brazil added some Jogo Bonito icing to the cake as half-a-dozen players linked up before Pele rolled the ball into the path of overlapping captain Carlos Alberto to flash a first-time shot into the far bottom corner of the net.
Dennis Bergkamp - Netherlands v Argentina (1998)
6. DENNIS BERGKAMP - NETHERLANDS V ARGENTINA (1998)
A tense 1998 World Cup quarter-final between the Netherlands and Argentina was on the verge of going to extra time when three touches of Bergkamp magic lit up Marseille’s Stade Velodrome .
Frank De Boer ’s raking 50-yard pass was superbly plucked out of the sky by Bergkamp with his first touch on the edge of the Argentina area. His second took him inside Roberto Ayala and his third saw him fire a rising shot past Carlos Roa with the outside of his right foot.
Outright Odds
2026 World Cup Outright Odds
Country | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Spain | 4/1 | 15.4% |
France | 9/2 | 14.3% |
England | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Brazil | 8/1 | 13.3% |
Argentina | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Portugal | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Bar | 14/1 | 6.7% |
Odds are correct at the time of writing, but subject to change.
Spain are the 4/1 favourites for 2026 World Cup glory but France (9/2), England (6/1), Brazil and holders Argentina (8/1) will also be fancying their chances.
Bobby Charlton - England v Mexico (1966)
5. BOBBY CHARLTON - ENGLAND V MEXICO (1966)
England’s final win over West Germany produced most of the iconic incidents from the 1966 World Cup , but Charlton’s group-stage strike against Mexico deserves a share of the limelight.
The Manchester United striker dribbled from inside his own half before switching from left to right foot to sidestep Mexico captain Gustavo Pena and unleashing a 30-yard thunderbolt into the far top corner.
Archie Gemmill - Scotland v Netherlands (1978)
4. ARCHIE GEMMILL - SCOTLAND V NETHERLANDS (1978)
Eight years before Diego Maradona's magnum opus against England came a World Cup wonder goal from Scotland’s own diminutive playmaker Archie Gemmill.
The Nottingham Forest man left three Netherlands defenders sprawled on the ground as he jinked his way into the area before coolly guiding the ball over the diving Jan Jongbloed to secure a famous 3-2 victory over the eventual runners-up.
Manuel Negrete - Mexico v Bulgaria (1986)
3. MANUEL NEGRETE - MEXICO V BULGARIA (1986)
The 1986 World Cup was packed full of memorable moments and among them was Negrete’s spectacular effort for host nation Mexico in their 2-0 last-16 win over Bulgaria .
Hugo Sanchez was Mexico’s star man and the Real Madrid forward was famed for his acrobatic finishes, but it was his team-mate Negrete who took the honours on this occasion.
Having taken the ball down on the edge of the area, Negrete played a one-two with Javier Aguirre before launching himself into the air and, while horizontal to the ground, smashed a scissor-kick volley into the far corner with his left foot.
James Rodriguez - Colombia v Uruguay (2014)
2. JAMES RODRIGUEZ - COLOMBIA V URUGUAY (2014)
Rodriguez ensured Colombia’s first World Cup campaign in 16 years was a memorable one in 2014, both individually and collectively.
His peak came in Colombia’s last-16 win over Uruguay with an effort that was unsurprisingly voted Goal of the Tournament , controlling Abel Aguilar’s header on his chest before swivelling and smashing a 25-yard left-footed volley in off the underside of the bar.
That was one of six goals James scored as Colombia reached the quarter-finals , earning him the Golden Boot and a £71million move to Real Madrid.
Diego Maradona - Argentina v England (1986)
1. DIEGO MARADONA - ARGENTINA V ENGLAND (1986)
Maradona scored two of the World Cup’s most unforgettable goals within the space of five incredible minutes against England in the 1986 quarter-finals in Mexico City.
The first, the so-called ‘Hand of God’ , is etched in history as one o f football's most controversial incidents after the Argentina captain punched the ball bast England goalkeeper Peter Shilton , but his second goal was a thing of beauty.
Picking the ball up in his own half, Maradona evaded Peter Reid , Peter Beardsley , Terry Butcher and Terry Fenwick before finally rounding Shilton as Argentina progressed 2-1 before going on to lift the title.
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