The Most Visually Satisfying Moments From The FIFA World Cup

The 2022 FIFA World Cup has had a lot of firsts. It's the first time the competition has kicked off in the Middle East. It's the first time we've seen World Cup goals in an Islamic nation. And it's the first time the tournament has taken place in winter. On top of all of that, World Cup fever has also gripped the United States, with more people than ever before tuning in to check out the men's game. Spectators have caught quite the show, too — as these highlights prove...

1. Harry Kane can't believe it

Harry Kane spectacularly missed a golden opportunity to level England's match against France — and lived to regret it. "Absolutely gutted," the England captain later tweeted after missing the crucial penalty. "We’ve given it everything, and it’s come down to a small detail which I take responsibility for. There’s no hiding from it, it hurts, and it’ll take some time to get over it."

2. Wout Weghorst shoots his shot

The Netherlands-Argentina quarter-final tie was a spicy affair, with the referee handing out 18 yellow cards and one red. But one of the actual soccer-related highlights of the game came when Dutch striker Wout Weghorst scored a cracking equalizer in the dying moments of the match. His jubilation was short-lived, however; Argentina later clinched the game on penalties.

3. Too much for Neymar

Neymar showed flashes of brilliance that lit up the Qatar World Cup. But perhaps the most poignant image of the Brazilian superstar came after Croatia dumped his team out of the tournament. Neymar couldn't control his emotions and later revealed that he was left "physically distraught" and "paralyzed for ten minutes" after the dramatic defeat.

4. Messi loses his cool

Lionel Messi made headlines around the world during his quarter-final game against the Netherlands. But it wasn't for anything he did during play. Instead, people focused on the moment he stopped a TV interview to ask an unseen person, "What you looking at, idiot?" And then, of course, he memorably lost his cool with the Netherlands coach, Louis van Gaal.

5. South Korea shock the world

Captain Son Heung-Min of South Korea dropped to the pitch in an outpouring of emotion after his team beat Portugal and advanced to the knockout stages of the World Cup. You can tell by the look on his face just how much it meant to him. South Korea won thanks to a late goal from Hwang Hee-chan.

6. The end of Ronaldo's reign?

Cristiano Ronaldo came under a lot of criticism before, during, and after his time at the Qatar World Cup. His outburst at the end of his side's defeat to South Korea caused him to miss most of the next match. And then his attitude after Portugal lost to Morocco in the quarter-final — when he walked off the field alone — had many calling his commitment into question.

7. Morocco mothers

The Moroccan team has won an army of new fans thanks to its antics on and off the soccer pitch. On the field, Morocco became the first-ever African soccer team to reach a World Cup semi-final. And away from the action, the team pulled at people's heartstrings by getting their loving mothers involved in the post-game celebrations. So sweet!

8. The man of the moment

Morocco's coach, Walid Regragui, has deservedly taken the lion's share of the praise for his team reaching a historic semi-final. He'd only taken the job three months before the tournament — but he's shown just how much can be achieved in such a short amount of time. The team incredibly defeated Belgium, Spain, and Portugal along the way.

9. Olivier Giroud celebrates a milestone

Olivier Giroud had good reason to be thanking his lucky stars after his performance against Australia in France's first game of the World Cup. The 36-year-old striker was only called up to play after Karim Benzema picked up an injury in training. But Giroud grabbed his opportunity with both hands — netting two goals to tie with Thierry Henry as France's all-time top-scorer.

10. Richarlison goes for glory

Everyone expects great things from Brazil at a FIFA World Cup. They have won it five times in the past, after all. But Richarlison seemingly shrugged off the burden of anticipation with arguably the goal of the tournament so far. His spectacular right-foot volley saw him score in a manner of which every young soccer player dreams. It also marked the striker's second goal of the match.

11. Japanese fans

Japanese fans got into the spirit of the Qatar World Cup with these incredibly colorful costumes. And if they look jubilant in the pictures taken before the kick-off of their opening match against Germany, we can only imagine how they looked after the final whistle. The match made headlines when Japan unexpectedly saw off Germany in a stunning 2-1 victory.

12. Cameroon dig deep

An early contender for "game of the tournament," the six-goal tie between Cameroon and Serbia really lit up the World Cup. Cameroon had their work cut out for them after falling two goals behind Serbia — but they were more than up for the challenge. The 3-3 result left them with everything to play for in the final match of Group G.

13. Ronaldo pulls a face

Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in Qatar under a cloud of controversy. His unprecedented interview with Piers Morgan had divided opinion and led to him being cut loose by Manchester United. Yet he remained the focus of attention of the Portuguese side — his expressive face rarely disguising his true feelings. But he had a reason to smile after this match against Ghana. That's when Ronaldo became the first male soccer player to find the net in five World Cups.

14. Mbappé makes his mark

Kylian Mbappé is one of the stars of the game, and he proved his quality early on with an attention-grabbing performance against Denmark. The young striker netted twice to safely see his side into the knockout stages of the competition. Mbappé moved onto 31 goals for his country with the display — meaning the 23-year-old is surely destined to eventually become France's top-scorer.

15. Flying kick from South Korea

South Korea's Lee Kang-in wasn't giving up on this ball during his country's showdown with Ghana — and his efforts were ultimately rewarded. Lee played a pivotal part in one of South Korea's two goals in this suspense-filled encounter. Yet his vital assist wasn't enough to see his country over the finish line — because Ghana won the match 3-2.

16. “Thanks, Boss!”

Before Japan's opening game of the tournament, the cameras found this gentleman's polite sign to his boss. But the Japanese fan might have been seriously considering asking for an extended break after Japan stunned the watching world by defeating Germany 2-1. That two-week period away from work would have only covered the group stages!

17. What it means to them

Wales had waited an unheard-of 64 years for their national men's soccer team to compete in a World Cup match — yet their team was dreadful in their opening 45 minutes against the USA. Things turned after the break, though, and Wales managed to find the net through their captain, Gareth Bale. And this is what it looks like when you score a historic World Cup goal for your country.

18. Watermelon man

When your country is always a World Cup favorite, it's easy for fans to get carried away in the stands. This guy went for the watermelon-on-the-head look — possibly as a throwback to another "Watermelon Man" fan who made headlines back in 2014. Or maybe he just loves watermelons. After all, the fruit is a big deal in Brazil.

19. Mbappé celebrates

France's coach, Didier Deschamps, knows that Kylian Mbappé can prove decisive in any match. “Kylian, what can I say?” Deschamps told the BBC after France's victory over Denmark. “An exceptional player. He has the ability to be decisive, stand up from the crowd and make the difference... He had the objective of playing at the World Cup, and France needs Kylian.”

20. Cameroon fan

This sea of green, red, and yellow shows just how much soccer success means to the supporters of Cameroon. The fans here are celebrating their team's first goal of the Qatar World Cup — and they would later have two more to punch the air about. Their opponents would also score three goals in the match, though, with the game ending in a thrilling tie.

21. Opening ceremony spectacle

“We gather here as one big tribe and Earth is the tent we all live in.” So said Morgan Freeman — yes, that Morgan Freeman — at the opening ceremony of Qatar's World Cup. Other highlights of the event included sword dancers, camels, and this guy floating high above the crowd. Unfortunately for the hosts, though, Qatar went on to lose all of their group matches — the first time this had happened to a World Cup host nation.

22. A good head on his shoulders

The Cameroon side is otherwise known as the Indomitable Lions — and they more than lived up to their nickname during their thrilling encounter with Serbia. The man in green here, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, will certainly remember this game for a long, long time. It was his 66th-minute finish that brought his side level with Serbia and earned them a precious point.

23. Getting a bit Messi

Argentina fans expect big things from Lionel Messi — and this Messi-head was no doubt thrilled when the main man put his team ahead in their opening game against Saudi Arabia. But he would not have been happy for long. Saudi Arabia completed what the BBC called “one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history” when they doomed the Argentines to a 2-1 defeat.

24. Defend with your life

Some people say the “best defense is a good offense” — but in soccer, at least, it doesn't hurt to have a solid defense, either. Cameroon’s Christian Bassogog and Serbia's Srdjan Babic show how you put your body on the line for your team, and they were not alone in their efforts. Nikola Milenkovic of Serbia had recorded six tackles after the first two games — the second-highest number so far amassed by any player at this World Cup.

25. USA Eagle and Wonder Woman show their support

It's hard to tell what the U.S. fans are reacting to in this picture, but it could be their team's stellar performance in the first half of their match against Wales. The display would have delighted the 11.7 million fans who tuned in from home, too. Those impressive numbers will no doubt please the people in charge because the USA, Canada, and Mexico will be co-hosting the World Cup in 2026.

26. Hot stuff

The Ahmad bin Ali Stadium played host to this Wales-Iran Group B match. This striking stadium can hold 45,000 fans — and keep them cool in the overwhelming Qatar heat with its innovative air conditioning system. “We maintain a bubble — and make sure it will not burst — by keeping the pressure different from outside,” said the designer. “The technology also cools the air and purifies it from pollen dust, human skin, human hair, and then gives it back.”

27. Hope and despair

Spain last won the World Cup in 2010 and they started their 2022 campaign with an impressive 7-0 win over Costa Rica. Their second match, against Germany, proved more difficult, however, and the tense encounter was seemingly all-consuming for this fan. She was watching the match from the Qatar Fan Festival — a prime location if you couldn’t get a ticket to the game.

28. Japan clean up

The sight of Japan’s fans cleaning the stadium after a soccer match is now a familiar-but-welcome addition to all major tournaments. “For Japanese people, this is just the normal thing to do,” Hajime Moriyasu, the Japanese coach, told AP News. “When you leave, you have to leave a place cleaner than it was before. That’s the education we have been taught. That’s the basic culture we have. For us, it’s nothing special.”

The Hand of God

Going back to 1986, this photo was taken at the World Cup quarter-final in Mexico, and England were up against Argentina and their star player, Diego Maradona. After a goalless first half, things erupted in the second. The ball flew into the box, where Maradona connected with it and scored — with his fist. The goal that would come to be known as the “Hand of God” stood and became infamous. But the wildest thing is that Maradona’s next contribution to this same match is almost as renowned as this moment.

The Cruyff turn

The Netherlands are playing Sweden at the 1974 tournament, and Johan Cruyff has just received the ball for the Dutch. Pressure is being applied by defender Jan Olsson, who seems to be in control of the situation. But all of a sudden, Cruyff drops his left shoulder ever so slightly. Olsson thinks the attacker is about to head back towards the center line — but he was wrong. Instead, Cruyff turns in the opposite direction towards the byline, his subtle shoulder-drop having been a dummy all along. This move has now been immortalized as the “Cruyff turn.”

Teenage Pele enters the spotlight

As the 1958 World Cup rolled around, the world was intrigued by what it had heard about some 17-year-old kid called Pele. Sure enough, he soon set the competition alight. His first goal came in the quarter-final, but it just got better from there. He scored a hat-trick in the semis, but this wasn’t even his crowning achievement. That came in the final versus Sweden, who were the hosts of that tournament. He scored two that game, and was generally irresistible. He helped his country to a 5-2 victory and their first ever World Cup.

The Miracle of Bern

It was 1954 and World War II was very much in living memory. The newly established state of West Germany had made it to the World Cup final in Bern, Switzerland, but now their unlikely run was set to come to an end. They were playing Hungary, probably the best team on Earth at the time. And sure enough, Hungary went 2-0 up within ten minutes. A drubbing seemed inevitable. But then, Germany scored one, then another, then another. Somehow, they’d turned things around to become champions. It was an inconceivable triumph, and one that restored a sense of pride to a nation still reeling from the war.

Bergkamp’s masterpiece

Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp’s goal against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup was, plainly, sublime. A long ball was launched into the box, which Bergkamp killed with a sumptuous first touch. This allowed him to cut inside, past his defender, and it was only the keeper to beat now. His shot with the outside of the boot flew into the back of the net. Everything had been perfect.

Gazza’s tears

England had made it to the 1990 semi-final, and they were playing bitter rivals West Germany. In the English team was Paul Gascoigne, who was in great form. But everything soon went wrong. After the game had gone to extra-time, Gascoigne went in for a challenge. The whistle went, and the ref took out a yellow card. Gascoigne had been booked in a previous game, so this latest card meant only one thing: if England made it to the final, Gascoigne wouldn’t be allowed to play in it. When this realization hit the player, the tears started to flow. It’s an image with a distinct potency that’s endured in England to this very day.

The Zidane headbutt

One of the greatest footballers of his generation, Frenchman Zinedine Zidane had the opportunity to end his career in style. His last ever game as a player was in the 2006 World Cup final versus Italy, where he was captaining his team. And everything initially seemed to be going right — he opened the scoring! But fate soon took a turn. Italy later pulled one back, forcing the game into extra time. Then the infamous moment came: Zidane, in a flash of fury, headbutted Marco Materazzi. It was one of the most shocking moments in World Cup history, and it saw Zidane sent off. His team then lost on penalties, and his career came to a close.

Paolo Rossi’s redemption story

Italian Paolo Rossi’s successful footballing career seemed finished when he was implicated in a corruption scandal. He was banned from the game for a couple of years, but immediately after the ban had ended, he was included in Italy’s 1982 World Cup side. That raised a few eyebrows, but he soon justified the decision. After a slow start, Rossi unexpectedly found his form and scored a hat-trick against favorites Brazil. Thanks almost entirely to the striker, Italy won the game and later won the whole tournament. In a flash, Rossi had recovered his reputation.

Eusébio takes the world by storm

Portugal had never been to a World Cup before, but their debut campaign in 1966 was an unexpected triumph. They beat two of the favorites in Brazil and Hungary, with their attacker Eusébio really beginning to shine. His crowning achievement, however, came in the quarter-final against North Korea, who overwhelmed Portugal and quickly took a 3-0 lead. Things looked bad, but Eusébio pulled out an outstanding performance. He scored four goals in that game, leading his country to a 5-3 victory. Portugal ultimately lost in the semis, but Eusébio had already established himself as a legend.

Ronaldo’s odyssey

Brazilian Ronaldo was expected to lead his country to glory at the 1998 World Cup. But not long before his team was set to face France in the final, the striker had a seizure. He still played in that game, but he obviously didn’t perform well — and he was vilified for it. His international career could have faltered from that point on, but, of course, the 2002 World Cup eventually rolled around. He played outstandingly throughout the competition, scoring more than any other player. His crowning achievement was scoring twice in the final, leading his team to victory and securing his place in the history books.

A new nation enters the world stage

Newly established as an independent state, Croatia were hardly expected to do especially well at the 1998 World Cup. Yet they passed through the group stages and ultimately made it to the quarter-finals, where they were set to face footballing giants Germany. The Germans were firm favorites, yet goals from Robert Jarni, Goran Vlaovic, and Davor Suker sent the underdogs through to the semis. Croatia ultimately lost their next game, but their triumph over the Germans put them on the world football map.

Germany humiliate Brazil

Brazil hosted the 2014 World Cup, and their odds of taking the trophy weren’t looking too shabby. But when they met Germany in the semi-final, everything went terribly, terribly wrong. Thomas Mueller opened the scoring for the Germans in the 11th minute, but then goal after goal after goal flooded in. Thirty minutes into the game, Brazil were 5-0 down. The second half was a more muted affair, with Germany getting two more and Brazil pulling one back at the very end. But the damage had already been done: it was a total humiliation.

Archie Gemmill’s magical goal

In 1978 Scotland needed to achieve victory against the Netherlands by three goals or more. If they failed, they’d be dumped out of the competition at the group stages. Well, for one special moment during the game, it seemed like it just might be possible. Archie Gemmill went on a run and tucked away a fine finish, giving his team a 3-1 lead. It was such a remarkable goal that deserved to send the country through, but the Netherlands later scored again and Scotland ultimately failed to make it. Even so, the goal is still legendary in the country and it was even referenced in the movie Trainspotting.

11 seconds in

Not many casual football fans will necessarily recognize the name Hakan Sukur, but the Turkish international has quite the claim to fame. At the 2002 World Cup, he scored the quickest goal in the history of the competition. It came against South Korea, and it took only 11 seconds for Sukur to find the back of the net.

Record tally

The player everyone remembers best from the 1958 World Cup is undoubtedly Pele, but he wasn’t the highest scorer that year. That honor went to Frenchman Just Fontaine, who racked up 13! That 13th strike was a record-breaking moment, marking the most goals scored by one player at a single World Cup. Fontaine still holds that record today.

America beats England

The date was June 29, 1950, and one of football’s greatest upsets was about to unfold. England, who were among the favorites to take home the World Cup, had come up against the United States, a team consisting of semi-professionals who had barely qualified. This could only go one way — or so it seemed. In the end, the U.S. overcame their English rivals with a 1-0 victory: an astonishing result.

“Goal! Golden Goal!”

When South Korean Ahn Jung-Hwan put the ball away against Italy in 2002, the world went nuts. It was a golden goal that knocked out the heavily favored Europeans and sent his own country to the quarter-finals — further than they’d ever gone before. Even the British commentator speaking over the match couldn’t contain his excitement. “Goal!” he exclaimed. “Golden Goal! Has ever a goal been more golden?”

Brazil win the 1970 tournament

Who are the greatest football team in history? That can never be definitively answered, of course, but for many it’s undoubtedly the Brazil side of 1970. Stacked with stars including Pele, Rivelino, Jairzinho, and Carlos Alberto, this team beat Italy in the World Cup Final. The moment the final whistle blew on that game was the culmination of a perfect run. They’d become the only team to ever win every single game of a World Cup and its qualifying campaign. No other team has ever managed that feat.

The Game of the Century

When Italy and West Germany met in the semi-final in the summer of 1970, a good game could reasonably have been predicted. What actually unfolded, though, far exceeded anyone’s expectations. After a 1-1 draw took it to extra time, things just went crazy. Five more goals suddenly followed, with Italy picking up three and the Germans two. Italy made it to the final, where they lost to Brazil. A disappointing end, but they’ll always have the memory of that heady victory in the semis.

North Korea’s unexpected triumph

When North Korea showed up in England for the 1966 World Cup, nobody expected them to go far. The British government didn’t even recognize the territory as a nation, and they weren’t exactly known as footballing heavyweights. Yet when it came down to it, the North Koreans surpassed everyone’s expectations. After a mixed bag of results, they needed to beat Italy in their final group game. Italy were huge favorites, yet they were knocked out by their North Korean opponents, who made it to the quarter-finals.

Hurst’s ghost goal

To this day, English football lionizes its national team, who secured their only World Cup triumph to date in 1966. But that victory wasn’t achieved without controversy. The final against West Germany had gone to extra-time when Geoff Hurst took a shot. The ball smashed against the crossbar, hit the ground, and bounced out again. It wasn’t at all clear whether the ball had crossed the line, but a goal was still awarded. Hurst would go on to complete a hat-trick and England would lift the trophy — but the debate rages on as to whether or not that particular goal should have stood.

Hitting double figures

The World Cup isn’t especially known for absurdly high-scoring, one-sided games, but there are exceptions. Most notably, we have the time in 1982 when Hungary destroyed El Salvador 10-1 in the group stages. No other team has ever managed to score ten or more in a single World Cup game.

The greatest decision

When referee Esse Baharmast awarded a penalty to Norway against Brazil at the 1998 World Cup, everyone was baffled. Almost nobody recognized that a foul had taken place, but Norway took their penalty and scored. After that, the press absolutely slaughtered Baharmast for his terrible decision. A few days after the game, though, footage of the foul from a different angle emerged — and it proved the referee had been right all along. In the face of all the abuse he’d been forced to endure, Baharmast was now vindicated.

Germany vs. Germany

No territory better encapsulated the tensions of the Cold War better than Germany. Split into East and West, the two states had a fractious relationship — and then they ended up facing each other at the 1974 World Cup, which was being held in West Germany. As expected, the atmosphere during the game was intense, and things went wild when the East scored. They ended up winning 1-0, but ultimately the West went on to win the whole competition.

The heat battle of Lausanne

With ten, Hungary hold the record for scoring the most goals by a single team in a World Cup match. But the highest number in total during a game is 12. That happened in 1954, when Austria scored seven to Switzerland’s five. That game has come to be dubbed “Hitzeschlacht von Lausanne” in German, which in English is something like “The heat battle of Lausanne.” That’s a reference to the soaring temperatures in which the game was played in the Swiss city of Lausanne.

Salenko scores five

When Russia came up against Cameroon at the 1994 World Cup, their forward Oleg Salenko managed to etch his name into the history books. No other player has ever scored more in a single game. How many did he get? Five. Imagine his ecstasy the moment the ball hit the back of the net that fifth time.

200,000 people pile into the stadium

When Uruguay made it to the 1950 World Cup final versus the hosts Brazil, it was a big deal. So many people wanted to watch the game, leading to an astonishing 173,850 tickets being sold. But that’s not all, as even more people made it inside the stadium without tickets. In total, an estimated 200,000 people were there that day. That was a huge amount of people watching Uruguay upset the favorites with a 2-1 victory.

Cameroon break new ground

Before 1990 no African team had ever made it past the World Cup group stages. But that all changed after Cameroon beat the defending champions Argentina in their first game. Argentina had Maradona on their team, but they were frustrated by the Cameroonians, who ultimately went on to the quarter-finals. Their success went a long way towards encouraging people to view African teams and their talented players with more respect.

The Sheik’s interference

It was France versus Kuwait in 1982 and Frenchman Alain Giresse was through on goal. As he ran forwards, a whistle sounded from the crowd. The Kuwait players stopped playing, presuming it was the ref’s whistle. It wasn’t. Giresse, meanwhile, tucked the ball away and added to the French lead. The Kuwaiti players were appalled, as was Sheikh Fahid Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the head of the country’s football association. He ordered his team to cease playing, and even ran onto the pitch to argue that the goal shouldn’t have stood. And the amazing thing is that he was successful: the goal was reversed.

Goal of the Century

We’ve already looked at Maradona’s controversial “Hand of God” goal against England in 1986. That one shouldn’t have stood, but there was absolutely nothing wrong with his next one in that same game. Maradona received the ball, ran past five opponents, and slotted home. It was one of the best individual goals the world has ever seen and is known as the “Goal of the Century.”

Iniesta’s extra-time goal

The World Cup final of 2010 was a tense affair. Both Spain and the Netherlands struggled to break the deadlock, and the game drifted into extra-time. And from there, it looked doomed to go to penalties. But then, four minutes before the end of extra-time, Andreas Iniesta stepped forward with the goods. He smashed the ball home and the Spanish erupted into a frenzy.

The first-ever golden goal

In an effort to make extra-time more attacking and exciting, the golden goal rule was introduced. That meant whoever scored first in extra-time instantly won the match. We saw the first ever golden goal at the 1998 World Cup, when Laurent Blanc scored and helped France overcome underdogs Paraguay. For all the issues with the now-scrapped golden goal rule, this moment undoubtedly proved it was exciting.

Saeed Al-Owairan’s remarkable solo goal

One of the greatest goals in World Cup history came from a player not many people remember. Saeed Al-Owairan was a forward for Saudi Arabia, who in 1994 ran the length of the pitch, past countless Belgian players, and tucked the ball into the net. It was a remarkable solo goal reminiscent of Maradona’s “Goal of the Century” two tournaments previously. In fact, it even earned Al-Owairan the moniker “Maradona of the Arabs.”

Senegal surprise the French

Going into the 2002 World Cup France had been on a roll. They’d won the last World Cup, plus the most recent European Championships. Their first game in this competition was against first-timers Senegal — a comfortable win would surely follow? That’s not what happened. In the 30th minute, Papa Bouba Diop struck to send Senegal into the lead. The rest of the game was a tense affair for the African side, but they somehow managed to hold out and send shockwaves through world football.

Good sports

When Iran and the United States were drawn to play each other at the 1998 World Cup, everyone expected things to get nasty. Relations between the two nations were notably tense at the time, and there were fears the match could even descend into violence. But what actually occurred was a very sporting game, with America securing a 2-1 victory. All the players were respectful to one another, and there were no issues in the crowd. It was all about the game and politics was left behind.

Tardelli’s celebration

What’s your favorite celebration following a goal? Nowadays, Cristiano Ronaldo probably has the most famous one, but it doesn’t quite match the sheer passion expressed in Marco Tardelli’s reaction to scoring at the World Cup final in ’82. When he got his goal on 69 minutes, he ran at full pelt around the pitch, screaming in ecstasy. The image of the man’s passion endures to this very day.

Gordon Banks’ save against Pele

When Pele got on the end of a cross in Brazil’s 1970 World Cup game against England, his goal was all but assured. His header was arrowing straight for the back of the net — until keeper Gordon Banks intervened. Somehow, the English goal-stopper got down to knock the ball away to safety. To this day, it remains one of the greatest saves ever. Even Pele himself has spoken about how good it was.

Jackie’s army

Ireland had never been to a World Cup before, so making it to the 1990 tournament in Italy was a big deal. Led by manager Jackie Charlton, the team and its fans were delighted to be there — but nobody really expected them to go far. Yet the team made it through the group stages and met Romania in the last 16. That game finished goalless, as did extra-time. It would come down to penalties to see who’d make it to the quarter-final. Both teams scored their first four penalties, before Romania missed one. It came down to David O’Leary to send his country through. In the tensest moment in Irish footballing history, he found the back of the net.

Peak Michael Owen

Because of the injuries that blighted him, Michael Owen’s career didn’t quite pan out as expected. But at the 1998 World Cup, anything seemed possible for the young English forward. Perhaps his greatest moment came against Argentina, when he scored a spectacular solo goal. The instant the ball hit the back of the net, Owen was a global superstar.

The greatest team goal at a World Cup?

Argentina have a definite claim on the best ever team goal scored at a World Cup. Facing Serbia and Montenegro in 2006 the South Americans started patiently stringing some passes together. Then some more. Then some more. All told, they wracked up an incredible 25 passes before Esteban Cambiasso slammed it home.