As football fans, we have always been intrigued with the magic of the greatest FIFA World Cup goals that have been scored in the tournament’s history!
The coveted international tournament started its journey in 1930, and since then it has witnessed hundreds of greatest goals throughout all editions. In 94 years of its glorious chapter so far, there have been 2548 goals scored in the tournament. Hundreds of great finishes, long-range shots, precise headers and inch-perfect curling efforts have made the football watchers go crazy. In this article, we take a look at 10 of the the greatest goals in the tournament’s history, which are eternal with their timeless beauty.
Many Superstars including Pele, Diego Maradona, Roberto Baggio and Ronaldinho have stunned the world with their bangers at the global stage. And yes, one of the modern day greats, Cristiano Ronaldo has also made it to the list of the top 10 greatest FIFA World Cup goals. In order to honor all these legendary goals, we have not ranked them, as they all are incomparable.
Greatest Goals Ever Scored in FIFA World Cup
James Rodriguez (Colombia vs Uruguay, 2014)
James Rodriguez was awarded the Golden Boot trophy in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Another individual trophy that was bestowed upon him was the Puskas Award. His world-class goal against Uruguay earned him this prestigious honor. The talented Colombian received the ball on his chest and scored through a stunning long-range volley. It was jaw-dropping, and it will be remembered for years to come. The Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera could do nothing to stop that wonder goal.
Ronaldinho (Brazil vs England, 2002)
Ronaldinho’s free-kick goal was an art in itself. Brazil won the 2002 World Cup, but the talk of the tournament was this long-range shot. The highly talented Selecao attacker struck the ball so hard that it went past a hapless David Seaman like a rocket, without giving the English goalkeeper any chance to save it.
If you want to know the synonym of an inch-perfect shot, then you have to watch Ronaldinho’s incredible free-kick, which is one of the greatest goals ever scored in the FIFA World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal vs Spain, 2018)
The FIFA World Cup witnessed another legendary free-kick goal in its 2018 edition when Cristiano Ronaldo pulled off one of the calmest and most composed finishes the world has ever seen. With Portugal trailing 3-2, the greatest goalscorer in the history of football placed the ball into the top right corner of the net with a precise right-footed finish.
A tall Spanish defensive wall with six or seven players, including Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, and Sergio Busquets, couldn’t do much and surrendered to the brilliance of the Portuguese skipper.
Dennis Bergkamp (Netherlands vs Argentina, 1998)
One of the finest players in the history of the World Cup, Dennis Bergkamp, broke the hearts of a high-flying Argentina side in 1998 with a goal that was out of this world. After receiving an imperfect long pass from Frank de Boer, Bergkamp set his sights on La Albiceleste’s goal on the cusp of the second half of extra time. After dribbling past Roberto Ayala, Bergkamp took a controlled shot with the outside of his boot and found the winner for his nation. The mercurial Dutchman later termed it “the best goal in his career.”
Michael Owen (England vs Argentina, 1998)
An eighteen-year-old Michael Owen scored one of the greatest goals in World Cup history, when he netted a stunner against Argentina in 1998. With the match evenly poised at 1-1, the young English attacker put up a magical display on the turf, beating the La Albiceleste defense in the blink of an eye to find the top left corner.
Roberto Baggio (Italy vs Czechoslovakia, 1990)
The football world was not ready to witness this banger from Roberto Baggio in a FIFA tournament, as the Italian was not a popular figure at that time. However, a goal against Czechoslovakia in 1990 changed his life. The bonafide playmaker, a highly skilled dribbler, was in red-hot form in the tournament.
Against Czechoslovakia, he ran past five or six opponents after collecting the ball from his own half and went all the way inside the Czechoslovakian penalty box to complete an exquisite finish. Jan Stejskal was just a spectator between the sticks.
Robin Van Persie (Netherlands vs Spain, 2014)
It is perhaps the greatest header in the history of this beautiful game. Robin Van Persie is called “the flying Dutchman” following this incredible goal that left everyone in awe in the stadium. After conceding a penalty goal in the first half, Daley Blind sent a left-footed cross into the Spanish penalty box, where Van Persie was heavily guarded by Sergio Ramos. But, the cunning Dutch forward threw himself into the air like a bird and sent the ball past an onrushing Iker Casillas with a pinpoint header.
Pelé (Brazil vs Sweden, 1958)
The 17-year-old boy from Brazil stunned the world with his solo goal against Sweden in the 1958 global tournament. The Swedish defense were just spectators when Pelé completed a left-footed world-class long-range goal. This goal was the path to greatness for the young Brazilian, who later became one of the greatest ever to play the beautiful game.
Bobby Charlton (England vs Mexico, 1966)
The list of greatest goals in FIFA World Cup history will always remain incomplete without Bobby Charlton’s piledriver. In 1966, in front of a packed Wembley Stadium, the English forward produced arguably the greatest World Cup goal England has ever scored. The left-footed Charlton received the ball during an English counter-attack and, after driving forward, pulled off a stunning shot with his right foot to find the right side of the net.
Diego Maradona (Argentina vs England, 1986)
Diego Maradona scored plenty of world-class goals in his illustrious career, but the strike against England in the 1986 World Cup was so good that it was regarded as the goal of the century. Following a fight for the ball in a tight position, Maradona collected the ball in the Argentina half and started his trademark dribbling with pace. After eluding five English opponents along the way, the blessed prince of football dribbled past the last line of the English defense, Peter Shilton, with ease to put the ball into an empty net. It was an iconic moment in World Cup history.
FAQs
Q1: Who is the best scorer at the FIFA World Cup?
Miroslav Klose is the best scorer at the FIFA World Cup.
Q2: What is the most goals scored in World Cup history?
Just Fontaine scored the most goals (13) in just one edition in World Cup history.
Q3: Who has the most goals in FIFA history?
Cristiano Ronaldo (895 goals) has the most goals in FIFA history.
Also Read: Top 10 Greatest Italians in Premier League History