The 10 Greatest Matches in World Cup History: Sports Illustrated's Classic Ranking

1. Italy 3-2 Brazil — 1982, Second Group Stage

The match at the top of the list is described by Sports Illustrated writer Rob Smyth as one of the greatest matches not only in the World Cup but in football history. Brazil under Tele Santana's management, with its legendary midfield consisting of Sócrates, Falcão, Zico and Toninho Cerezo, needed only a draw to advance to the semi-final. Italy, which had made a bad start to the World Cup, was forced to win. In the game of constant momentum balance, Paolo Rossi, who had returned to the World Cup after being banned for two years due to a match-fixing scandal, took the stage and scored a hat-trick. Although Brazil twice equalised with breathtaking goals from Sócrates and Falcão, Rossi's final goal determined the fate of the match. The match, which became unforgettable with the humidity and heat in Barcelona, was engraved in the creative memory of football history.

2. Uruguay 2-1 Brazil — 1950, Final Group

The match watched by a crowd of 205,000 at the Maracana Stadium went down in football history under the name "Maracanazo." The absolute silence the stadium experienced after Alcides Ghiggia's goal in the last 11 minutes is still talked about. There was no actual final at the 1950 World Cup; the team that finished at the top of the final group would be champion. Brazil, which had scored 13 goals in the first two matches, needed only a draw; but the surprising result that walked to the summit from the Uruguay window wrote history. Despite Brazil taking around thirty shots throughout, Uruguay reached the championship by maintaining its resistance.

3. Hungary 4-2 Uruguay — 1954, Semi-Final

The match between Hungary, which had not been defeated for three years, and Uruguay, which had never lost in World Cup history, brought together the two giants of two continents. Both teams took the field without their star players, Ferenc Puskás and Obdulio Varela. While Hungary was 2-0 ahead, Uruguay equalised with two goals from Juan Hohberg in the last 15 minutes. Hohberg's shot returning from the post in extra time was the turning point of the match; then Sándor Kocsis carried Hungary to the final with two goals in the last 10 minutes.

4. West Germany 3-2 Hungary — 1954, Final

The match that became legendary under the name "Miracle of Berne" went down in history as the first major expression of Germany's national character that never gives up. Hungary had crushed Germany 8-3 in the group and was on a world record 32-match unbeaten run. Against Hungary, which went 2-0 ahead in the first 10 minutes of the final in Switzerland, Germany caught the equaliser in the 19th minute. Germany, which took the lead 3-2 with Helmut Rahn's second goal as the last five minutes of the match approached, embraced the trophy with victory. In subsequent years, similar comebacks became the character of German football.

5. West Germany 3-3 France — 1982, Semi-Final (Germany 5-4 on Penalties)

The match, one of the most controversial in the ranking, ended with Germany's ruthless comeback capacity once again taking the stage despite France's aesthetic midfield play. The hard intervention German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher made on Patrick Battiston caused the French player to lose two teeth and suffer a concussion; the referee did not punish it. France, which was 3-1 ahead in extra time, went to penalties thanks to Germany's structural resistance once again and bid farewell to the trophy with 5-4 in the first penalty shootout of World Cup history.

6. West Germany 2-1 Netherlands — 1974, Final

The Netherlands' penalty taken before Germany even touched the ball in the opening minute of the match is remembered as one of the most unusual starts in football history. After the early penalty Johan Cruyff won, the reflections on the match of the psychological tension the Netherlands felt against Germany in the post-war period were analysed. The performance of Berti Vogts, who marked Cruyff from start to finish, was of critical importance. The goal scored by the legendary striker Gerd Müller minutes before half-time made Germany champion.

7. France 1-1 Brazil — 1986, Quarter-Final (France 4-3 on Penalties)

Brazil's lost generation of 1982 bid farewell to the World Cup with another bitter end against France in 1986. Brazil's midfield consisting of Sócrates, Júnior and Zico and the French trio of Michel Platini, Jean Tigana and Alain Giresse presented a match unlike any other in terms of technical quality. Brazil hit the post twice, missed a penalty and an open goal. As the match went to penalties, the saves of French goalkeeper Joël Bats became decisive and France took revenge for the trauma of 1982 four years later against Brazil.

8. Romania 3-2 Argentina — 1994, Second Round

After Diego Maradona was banned from the World Cup due to a doping test, Argentina's match with Romania witnessed a great surprise. In Pasadena's suffocating heat, Romania took a deep position and overwhelmed its rival with quick attacks. Gheorghe Hagi, known as "Maradona of the Carpathians," scored a goal and gave an assist to Ilie Dumitrescu. When the final whistle of the match blew, Romania won 3-2 and ended Argentina's tournament in the last 16.

9. Italy 4-3 West Germany — 1970, Semi-Final

The match called "Game of the Century" offered a sensory feast in which six goals were scored in 21 minutes. In the dramatic finale that began with Germany catching the equaliser in extra time, the goal Gianni Rivera scored in the 111th minute carried the Azzurri to the final. The heat of Mexico, Franz Beckenbauer playing with his dislocated shoulder in a sling, and the fatigue in defence affected the appearance of the match. Although some commentators compared this match to a basketball game, the war between two superpowers with seven goals lives as one of the most memorable moments of World Cup history.

10. Argentina 2-2 England — 1998, Second Round (Argentina 4-3 on Penalties)

The match played in Saint-Étienne began as a feast in which four goals were scored in the first half; as it moved to the second half, the dismissal of David Beckham after Diego Simeone's provocation completely changed the course of the match. England, which was left with 10 men, spent the rest by defending and the match went to penalty kicks. England, which sank into pain again at the penalties, bid farewell to the World Cup after Argentina's 4-3 superiority. Michael Owen's wonderful individual goal and Beckham's red card moment took their place in memories as the unforgettable scenes of the match.

Source: Sports Illustrated (Rob Smyth)

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