The 10 Greatest Goals in World Cup History: Unforgettable Moments from Maradona to Bergkamp

1. Diego Maradona — Argentina 2-1 England, 1986 Quarter-Final

This goal, referred to as the "Goal of the Century," is undisputedly considered the greatest individual achievement in World Cup history. In the quarter-final match played at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, Maradona took the ball from the middle of his own half and after a 60-metre run, dribbled past five players from the English defence and left the ball in the corner of the goal past the helpless goalkeeper Peter Shilton. This second goal, which came after the first goal known as "Hand of God" earlier in the same match, is remembered as the peak of Maradona's football genius. Argentina won the match 2-1 to advance to the semi-final and eventually became the champion of the tournament.

2. Carlos Alberto — Brazil 4-1 Italy, 1970 Final

This strike, described as the most beautiful team goal in history, came in the 1970 final played in Mexico. The right-back Carlos Alberto, who received the long pass from Pele after the passing exchange that started in front of the Brazilian goal and involved eight players, left the ball in the far corner of the goal with a great right-foot shot. This goal in the 86th minute sealed Brazil's superior 4-1 victory and third World Cup championship. This goal, which became the symbol of the Jules Rimet Cup being permanently given to Brazil, went down in history as the most magnificent expression of football's "joga bonito" philosophy.

3. Dennis Bergkamp — Netherlands 2-1 Argentina, 1998 Quarter-Final

While the quarter-final match played at the Vélodrome Stadium in Marseille continued 1-1 until the last seconds, Dutch defender Frank de Boer found Bergkamp with a 60-metre long pass from his own half. The Dutch star first brought the ball down with extraordinary control with his outstretched foot, then passed the ball under defender Roberto Ayala and sent it past goalkeeper Carlos Roa into the goal. This goal in the 90th minute carried the Netherlands to the semi-final and strengthened Bergkamp's place in football history. This three-stage strike (control, dribble, finish) is remembered as a lesson on how genius can emerge in a single touch.

4. James Rodriguez — Colombia 2-0 Uruguay, 2014 Last 16

At the Maracana Stadium in Brazil against Uruguay, Colombia's striker James Rodriguez won the Puskas Award of the 2014 World Cup with this volley. The Colombian star, who first controlled the ball with his chest outside the penalty area, sent it to the net with a great volley from his left foot from 25 metres while turning his back, hitting the lower part of the crossbar and landing in the corner of the goal. Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera could do nothing. This goal made Rodriguez the World Cup golden boot owner and introduced the 23-year-old Colombian to the world football stage.

5. Michael Owen — Argentina 2-2 England, 1998 Last 16

In the first half of the unforgettable match played in Saint-Étienne, English striker Michael Owen turned David Beckham's long pass from his own half and passed through the Argentinian defenders with his speed, sending the ball to the net past goalkeeper Carlos Roa at the end of a 50-metre run. Owen, who was 18 years old at the time, became one of the brightest youngsters of world football overnight with this individual success. Although the match ended 2-2 and Argentina won on penalties, Owen's strike is still remembered as one of the greatest individual achievements in English football.

6. Maxi Rodriguez — Argentina 2-1 Mexico, 2006 Last 16

At the World Cup played in Germany, the match between Argentina and Mexico in the last 16 round went to extra time. In the 98th minute, Argentinian midfielder Maxi Rodriguez controlled the ball Juan Pablo Sorin threw into the side of the area outside the penalty area with his chest, then made a great strike with his left foot, sending the ball past the upper post and into the far corner of the goal. Mexican goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez was helpless in this volley and Argentina advanced to the quarter-final with a 2-1 score. Due to the technical quality of the strike and coming at the critical moment of the match, this goal is shown as one of the most beautiful extra-time goals in World Cup history.

7. Roberto Baggio — Italy 2-0 Czechoslovakia, 1990 Group Stage

At the 1990 World Cup played in Italy, against Czechoslovakia at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Roberto Baggio took the ball from his own half and after the one-two pass he made with Giuseppe Giannini in the middle, passed three defenders and sent the ball to the net by also going around the goalkeeper from the six-yard box. This goal of high individual quality sealed Italy's 2-0 lead and became one of the early period expressions of Baggio's football genius, who was called "Divin Codino." Although Italy finished the tournament third, Baggio's strike was recorded as one of the most beautiful moments of the tournament.

8. Pele — Brazil 5-2 Sweden, 1958 Final

In the 1958 World Cup final played in Stockholm, when 17-year-old Pele became the youngest final scorer in football history, viewers witnessed a true moment of genius. The Brazilian star first brought the ball down from his chest in the penalty area, then lifted the ball over the Swedish defender and threw it over himself, turned the defender, and sent the ball to the net with his right foot. This goal reinforced Brazil's 5-2 lead and was Pele's official introduction to the football world. The fact that a 17-year-old player scored such a goal in the final was interpreted as a new era of football.

9. Saeed Al-Owairan — Saudi Arabia 1-0 Belgium, 1994 Group Stage

In the 1994 World Cup group match played in the USA, Saudi Arabian midfielder Saeed Al-Owairan took the ball from his own half and at the end of a 60-metre run, passed five Belgian defenders and sent the ball past the goalkeeper into the net. This solo achievement, likened to Maradona's goal in 1986, secured Saudi Arabia's 1-0 victory and carried the team to the last 16. This goal, which stood out as the first major individual quality result of Asian football on the World Cup stage, was later chosen as the best goal of the 1994 World Cup by FIFA.

10. Salem Al-Dawsari — Saudi Arabia 2-1 Argentina, 2022 Group Stage

In the group stage of the 2022 World Cup played in Qatar, against Argentina at the Lusail Stadium in the 53rd minute, Salem Al-Dawsari controlled the ball outside the penalty area, turned three players and made a great strike with his left foot, leaving the ball just under the upper post and in the far corner of the goal. Although Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez touched the shot, it was not possible to block the ball. This goal sealed Saudi Arabia's historic 2-1 victory while ending Argentina's 36-match unbeaten run. Ironically, Argentina completed the tournament as champion despite this defeat.

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