To help build the excitement for this summer’s spectacular tournament, we’re taking a trip down memory lane and ranking 10 of the greatest World Cup matches .
The added significance of fantastic finals has played a big part in our ratings process, but three other fixtures make the list:
Brazil 1 Germany 7
10. BRAZIL 1 GERMANY 7 (2014 semi-final)
Hosts Brazil had battled past Chile and Colombia in the knockout rounds but were then simply blown apart by an incredible Germany display at the last-four stage.
After Thomas Muller and Miroslav Klose had put Die Mannschaft in control, there were doubles for Toni Kroos and Andre Schurrle either side of Sami Khedira netting. Oscar’s late consolation did little to lift Brazil’s spirits.
Italy 4 Hungary 2
9. ITALY 4 HUNGARY 2 (1938 final)
Reigning champions Italy took a sixth-minute lead in Paris through Gino Colaussi, but were pegged back almost immediately when Pal Titkos scored.
Silvio Piola and Colaussi again made it 3-1, but skipper Gyorgy Sarosi ensured a tense final 20 minutes when he reduced the deficit, before Piola dashed Hungary’s hopes for good.
Uruguay 4 Argentina 2
8. URUGUAY 4 ARGENTINA 2 (1930 final)
The very first World Cup final proved an eventful affair as hosts Uruguay took an early lead through Pablo Dorado only to find themselves 2-1 down at the break after Carlos Peucelle and Guillermo Stabile struck.
However, second-half goals from Jose Pedro Cea , Victoriano Santos Iriarte and Hector Castro meant the trophy remained in Montevideo .
Argentina 3 West Germany 2
7. ARGENTINA 3 WEST GERMANY 2 (1986 final)
Argentina looked to be cruising to victory at the Azteca after goals from Jose Brown and Jorge Valdano put them 2-0 up with 56 minutes gone. The game was back in the melting pot when Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Rudi Voller drew the Germans level, but Jorge Burruchaga’s 84th-minute winner handed Diego Maradona the task of collecting the biggest prize of all.
Italy 4 West Germany 3
6. ITALY 4 WEST GERMANY 3 (1970 semi-final)
The Azzurri went ahead early on through Roberto Boninsegna but the so-called ‘Game of the Century’ really came alive after Karl-Heinz Schnellinger equalised in the 90th minute.
In extra-time, Gerd Muller twice pulled the Germans back level again after Italy struck through Tarcisio Burgnich and Gigi Riva , but Gianni Rivera rifled in the match-winner in the 111th minute.
2026 World Cup Odds
2026 World Cup Odds
Player | Odds | Implied Chance |
|---|---|---|
Spain | 4/1 | 20% |
France | 9/2 | 18.2% |
England | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Brazil | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Argentina | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Portugal | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Germany | 14/1 | 6.7% |
BAR | 20/1 | 4.8% |
West Germany 3 Hungary 2
5. WEST GERMANY 3 HUNGARY 2 (1954 final)
West Germany became world champions for the first time in a contest dubbed ‘The Miracle of Bern’ .
Ferenc Puskas and Zoltan Czibor had the Magical Magyars , fresh from their famous 6-3 demolition of England , 2-0 up within eight minutes, but Max Morlock’s reply and a double from Helmut Rahn saw the Germans win against the odds.
Italy 3 Brazil 2
4. ITALY 3 BRAZIL 2 (1982 second group stage)
Both teams had already beaten Argentina , but goal difference meant Italy needed a win to reach the semis. Paolo Rossi twice put the Azzurri in front but Brazil hit back on each occasion, via Socrates and a stunning Falcao strike.
However, Rossi completed his hat-trick in the 74th minute and after Giancarlo Antognoni had a goal ruled out for offside, Dino Zoff saved to deny Oscar in the closing stages.
Brazil 4 Italy 1
3. BRAZIL 4 ITALY 1 (1970 final)
Having seen their hopes of a hat-trick of World Cups ruined four years earlier, Brazil produced one of the most complete final performances when they trounced Italy in style at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
Boninsegna had dragged the Italians back into it after Pele’s early score, but goals from Gerson and Jairzinho saw the South Americans take control before skipper Carlos Alberto’s stunning strike capped off an outstanding display in fitting fashion.
Argentina 3 France 3
2. ARGENTINA 3 FRANCE 3 (2022 final, Argentina won 4-2 on penalties)
Lionel Messi enjoyed a dream, career-defining World Cup triumph as Argentina won the most dramatic final in history on penalties after Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick had kept holders France alive.
Messi opened the scoring with a first-half penalty that was quickly complemented by Angel Di Maria’s fine goal, but Mbappe struck twice in 97 seconds late on to take the match beyond 90 minutes. Messi and Mbappe swapped extra-time goals before Emiliano Martinez helped La Albiceleste win the shoot-out.
England 4 West Germany 2
1. ENGLAND 4 WEST GERMANY 2 (1966 final)
Okay, we may be a little bit biased, but what a classic this was! Underdogs England were seconds from glory at Wembley after goals from Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters had overhauled Helmut Haller’s opener when Wolfgang Weber took the tie to extra-time.
Hurst’s second, controversially awarded by referee Gottfried Dienst after lengthy consultation with Azerbaijani linesman Tofiq Bahramov , put the hosts back in front and his third completed the first hat-trick in the final and clinched the Jules Rimet trophy.
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