TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The best World Cup finals etch themselves permanently into the collective memory of football supporters, persisting long after the ensuing final whistles. These incomparable showpieces have produced some of the sport’s most iconic moments, which singlehandedly lure more people to tune into the quadrennial tournament.
If you are feeling strangely nostalgic, let’s rewind the time to the years that birthed some of the best World Cup finals, backed by the findings of One Football and FIFA.
List of the Best World Cup Finals
1. Argentina vs France - 2022
In what many regard as the best World Cup final ever staged, Argentina and France delivered a spectacle of unrelenting drama, shifting momentum, and individual brilliance. It was a night where legends rose, history shifted, and the sport showcased its purest form of theatre.
Argentina’s early dominance, crowned by goals from Lionel Messi and Di Maria, seemed to settle the contest before Kylian Mbappe tore up the script with a late double that stunned the Lusail Stadium. Extra time brought yet another Messi strike and an ice-cold response from Mbappe, whose hat-trick ensured the match would be decided from the spot.
Emiliano Martinez’s heroic interventions, from his last-gasp save against Kolo Muani to his decisive role in the shootout, ultimately sealed Argentina’s triumph and Messi’s coronation.
2. Brazil vs Germany - 2002
In Yokohama, the 2002 World Cup final between Brazil and Germany endures as a masterclass in footballing redemption, with Ronaldo transforming years of physical torment and lingering doubt into a performance of rare conviction. His two goals, born of razor-sharp anticipation and clinical execution, shattered Oliver Kahn’s defenses and propelled Brazil to an unprecedented fifth title. By night’s end, Ronaldo’s Golden Boot served as both a reward and a symbolic rebirth.
3. Germany vs Argentina - 1986
As the 1986 tournament reached its ending saga, the Azteca Stadium bore witness to one of the best World Cup final spectacles in football’s long history. Under Maradona’s mesmerizing command, Argentina surged forward with purpose, dictating the rhythm and emotional temperature of the night.
While a two-goal advantage seemed to seal the script, the Germans clawed their way back through a spell of trademark resilience. With extra time looming, Maradona unraveled the German defense with a single stroke of genius, sending Burruchaga through to decide it. Ultimately, the ensuing 3-2 victory positioned Argentina's second global crown.
4. Brazil vs Uruguay - 1950
While it was technically not a final yet, the 1950 “Maracanazo” remains one of football’s most haunting chapters. What should have been a celebration of Uruguay’s second World Cup crown instead became a national wound for Brazil, prompting headlines as stark as “Brazil is dead” and leaving the country in a state of collective grief so profound it claimed several lives.
5. Germany vs Hungary - 1954
Among the contests frequently mentioned in discussions of the best World Cup finals, few eclipse the improbable spectacle of the rain-soaked drama of Berne in 1954. Hungary’s Golden Team, unbeaten for years and blessed with talents like Puskas and Kocsis, looked poised for another masterclass after racing to a 2-0 lead within eight minutes.
But Germany summoned a resilience that defied logic, clawing back to level the score and surviving a series of near-misses from the shell-shocked Magyars. Then, with time slipping away, Helmut Rahn delivered the decisive blow, completing a 3-2 comeback that is immortalised as the “Miracle of Bern.”
6. Brazil vs Italy - 1970
Brazil’s triumph over Italy in the searing heat of Mexico City in 1970 is truly the culmination of what many still regard as the sport’s most complete team. With both nations chasing a third world title, Pele rose above the occasion, opening the scoring before conducting an irresistible play. Gerson and Jairzinho soon added their strokes to the masterpiece, paving the way for Carlos Alberto’s legendary finish.
7. England vs Germany - 1966
When discussions arise about the best World Cup final, England’s 1966 victory inevitably commands a place for its high drama fused with national destiny. Playing before a rapturous home crowd and under the watchful gaze of Queen Elizabeth II, the hosts were determined to avoid the fate that befell Brazil in 1950, yet found themselves pushed to the brink by a resilient West German side.
Extra time brought the turning point, as Geoff Hurst struck twice, with one of them still debated for its validity more than half a century on. Still, his hat-trick, the first ever in a World Cup decider, became a cornerstone of English sporting identity.
8. Italy vs France - 2006
The 2006 final between Italy and France delivered one of football’s most explosive endings. Zinedine Zidane dazzled with a bold Panenka before his night collapsed with a headbutt on Materazzi after alleged provocation. France pushed the match to a shootout without him, but Trezeguet’s rattled penalty eventually handed Italy the crown.
9. Brazil vs Sweden - 1958
The 1958 showdown in Stockholm is a strong contender for the best World Cup final, marking the dawn of Brazil’s unparalleled dominance on the global stage. A 17-year-old Pelé rose above the pressure, scoring twice and enchanting even the Swedish spectators. By the time Pelé sealed the 5-2 triumph with a soaring header, Brazil had just won its first World Cup title ever.
10. France vs Brazil - 1998
On a night overshadowed by confusion around Ronaldo, it was Zinedine Zidane who seized the moment with two superb headers that ripped through Brazil’s defence. France refused to be rattled despite Blanc’s suspension and Brazil’s star-studded lineup. Jacquet’s tactical discipline suffocated the favourites from the opening whistle. And, Petit’s last-minute finish sealed the 3-0 masterclass.
The best World Cup finals endure momenta because they capture everything football promises, from drama, brilliance, to heartbreak that outlive generations. These matches, each unforgettable in its own way, remind us why the tournament remains the sport’s ultimate stage.
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