Top 10 best FIFA World Cup games of all time ft. Portugal 3-3 Spain (2018)

Brazil hold the record for the most FIFA World Cup titles (5).

The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of international football, a tournament that unites billions of fans across the globe every four years. Millions rally behind their nations, billions dream of seeing their favourite players lift the trophy. Smaller nations create history against all odds, while footballing giants sometimes fail even to qualify.

Club rivalries are put aside as supporters unite behind their national teams, while teammates become fierce opponents on the biggest stage. Few sporting events can evoke emotions the way the FIFA World Cup does. It brings out the passion and inner child in football fans across the world.

Regarded as one of the greatest sporting events in history, if not the greatest, the FIFA World Cup has produced countless unforgettable moments since its inception in 1930. Across 22 completed editions, with the ongoing tournament being the 23rd, the competition has delivered iconic matches, legendary performances, and stories that have become part of football’s history.

The only editions that were not held came in 1942 and 1946 due to the Second World War. Brazil hold the record for the most FIFA World Cup titles, having lifted the trophy five times. Italy and Germany follow closely on four triumphs each.

Defending champions Argentina have won the competition three times. They are chasing a historic fourth crown. Meanwhile, France are aiming to equal Argentina’s tally by winning their third FIFA World Cup title.

Goals have defined careers, mistakes have ended them, triumphs have created long-lasting memories, eliminations have broken hearts, performances have earned life-changing transfers. Unforgettable moments have turned ordinary footballers into national heroes. Few competitions have the power to shape a player’s legacy, both positively and negatively, quite like the FIFA World Cup.

Here, every touch of the ball can become part of history. The tournament has delivered countless moments of drama, breathtaking comebacks, and unforgettable finales over the decades.

Here are the 10 greatest matches in FIFA World Cup history.

10. England 4-2 West Germany – England 1966

In 96 years of FIFA World Cup history, England have hosted the tournament only once. Ironically, it remains the only time they have won the competition. At Wembley Stadium in London, the Three Lions faced West Germany, who were aiming to lift their second FIFA World Cup title.

Helmut Haller gave West Germany the lead in the 12th minute, but Sir Geoff Hurst equalised just six minutes later. Around the 80th minute, Martin Peters put England ahead with what looked to be the winning goal. However, Wolfgang Weber struck in the 89th minute to level the score and force extra time.

Sir Geoff Hurst then scored twice in extra time to complete a historic hat-trick and secure England’s first and only FIFA World Cup title. However, England’s third goal remains one of the most controversial goals in football history. Many believe the ball never fully crossed the goal line.

Recent studies have suggested that only around 50% of the ball crossed the line before it bounced back into play.

9. Italy 4-3 West Germany – Mexico 1970

Played at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico, the FIFA World Cup 1970 semi-final between Italy and West Germany has long been regarded as the ‘Game of the Century‘. Italy took an early lead through Boninsegna. They looked set to secure their place in the final within normal time.

However, Schnellinger struck late into second-half stoppage time to level the scores. It forced the match into extra time. The game then swung dramatically in extra time.

West Germany took a 2-1 lead before Italy turned the game around to make it 3-2 by the end of the first half of extra time. Gerd Müller equalised once again for West Germany in the 110th minute to make it 3-3.

Only for Giovanni Rivera to restore Italy’s lead just a minute later. Rivera’s winner sealed Italy’s place in the final. There they eventually lost to Brazil.

8. France 3-3 West Germany (4-5 pens) – Spain 1982

Commonly referred to as the ‘Night of Seville’, the FIFA World Cup 1982 semi-final between France and West Germany is widely regarded as one of the greatest matches in the history of the tournament. It was also the first match in FIFA World Cup history to be decided by a penalty shootout after the rule was introduced ahead of the 1974 edition.

With the score level at 1-1 after 90 minutes, France took a huge step towards the final by scoring twice in the first half of extra time to establish a 3-1 lead at the break. However, West Germany mounted a remarkable comeback.

Rummenigge led the fightback. They levelled the score at 3-3 before eventually prevailing 5-4 in the penalty shootout to book their place in the final.

7. Netherlands 2-3 Brazil – USA 1994

At the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, United States, the Netherlands and Brazil produced one of the most thrilling matches of the FIFA World Cup 1994, widely regarded as the tournament’s best game. The first half ended goalless. Few could have anticipated the drama that would unfold after the break.

Romario opened the scoring for Brazil in the 54th minute before Bebeto doubled their advantage just a few minutes later. However, the Netherlands responded brilliantly. Dennis Bergkamp and Aron Winter scored twice within 12 minutes to bring the game level.

Branco eventually shattered the Dutch hopes by scoring the winner with a stunning free-kick from around 30–35 yards out just minutes later, sealing a 3-2 victory for Brazil. The Selecao went on to lift the World Cup by defeating Italy on penalties in the final. A shootout forever remembered for Roberto Baggio’s miss.

6. Germany 0-2 Italy (AET) -Germany 2006

While the FIFA World Cup 2006 is best remembered for the infamous Zinedine Zidane–Marco Materazzi incident in the final, the semi-final between Germany and Italy produced one of the greatest matches in the tournament’s history. Although the score remained 0-0 for the first 118 minutes, the game was anything but dull.

Both sides went toe-to-toe throughout the contest, creating chance after chance in an end-to-end encounter. However, heroic goalkeeping at both ends, combined with a lack of clinical finishing, kept the deadlock intact until the closing stages of extra time.

Fabio Grosso finally broke the deadlock in the 119th minute before Alessandro Del Piero sealed the victory moments later, sending Italy into the final. There they went on to lift the World Cup.

5. Uruguay 1-1 Ghana (4-2 pens) – South Africa 2010

When people talk about FIFA World Cup drama, few matches come close to the quarter-final clash between Uruguay and Ghana at the FIFA World Cup 2010. The game had everything, from stunning goals to late controversy. One of the most unforgettable games in the history of the competition.

It was a game of spectacular goals. Ghana took the lead through a stunning strike from Muntari from around 35–40 yards out. Uruguay responded with a moment of brilliance of their own.

Diego Forlan curled home a sensational free kick to bring the score level. The defining moment of the match came in the 121st minute. Luis Suarez used his hand to clear Dominic Adiyiah’s goal-bound header off the line.

While it looked heartbreaking for Uruguay to concede a penalty so late in extra time, Suarez’s decision is now widely regarded as a masterstroke. Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting penalty. Uruguay went on to win the shootout 4-2 and secure their place in the semi-finals.

4. Brazil 1-1 Chile (3-2 pens) – Brazil 2014

Hosts Brazil were involved in a thrilling Round of 16 clash against Chile at the FIFA World Cup 2014, eventually edging past their South American rivals on penalties. David Luiz gave Brazil an early lead before Alexis Sanchez equalised just a few minutes later.

The game then turned into an end-to-end battle. Both Julio Cesar and Claudio Bravo produced a string of remarkable saves to keep their teams in the contest. Hulk thought he had scored the winner for Brazil, but his goal was ruled out for handball.

Meanwhile, Mauricio Pinilla came agonisingly close to winning it for Chile. His powerful strike crashed against the crossbar in extra time.

In the penalty shootout, Julio Cesar made brilliant saves from Chile’s first two spot-kicks, although Willian missed Brazil’s second penalty. Claudio Bravo then kept Chile’s hopes alive by saving Hulk’s effort. Gonzalo Jara’s decisive penalty struck the post, sending Brazil through to the quarterfinals

3. Spain 3-3 Portugal – Russia 2018

The game of the tournament, perhaps? Spain and Portugal produced one of the greatest matches of the FIFA World Cup 2018 in the opening game of Group B. Cristiano Ronaldo gave Portugal an early lead from the penalty spot after a soft foul by Nacho.

Diego Costa brought Spain level before Ronaldo restored Portugal’s advantage, capitalising on a costly error from David de Gea to give his side a 2-1 lead at half-time.

Diego Costa scored again early in the second half to make it 2-2 before first-half villain Nacho completed his redemption with a stunning volley to put Spain ahead. Just when Spain looked set to claim all three points, Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up with a sensational late free-kick to complete his hat-trick.

He rescued a point for Portugal.

2. Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 pens) – Qatar 2022

There are very few matches that can match the emotions and drama football fans experienced during the FIFA World Cup 2022 final, especially the Argentine and French faithful. Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute. This was before Angel Di Maria, the man for the big occasions, doubled Argentina’s advantage minutes later to give them a commanding 2-0 lead at half-time.

Argentina remained in complete control for much of the second half. It looked as though Messi was finally on his way to winning his first FIFA World Cup and Argentina’s third.

However, Kylian Mbappe, the man for the biggest stages, sparked an incredible comeback. He scored twice in the space of two minutes to level the score and force extra time.

Messi restored Argentina’s lead in the second half of extra time and looked to have won it, but Argentina conceded a late penalty. Mbappe made no mistake from the spot to complete his hat-trick. France came within inches of snatching the trophy in the 123rd minute.

Randal Kolo Muani’s close-range effort was heroically denied by Dibu Martinez, whose stunning save sent the game to penalties. Argentina eventually won the shootout 4-2, with Emi Martinez saving Kingsley Coman’s penalty while Aurelien Tchouameni dragged his effort wide.

In the end, Messi fulfilled his destiny of lifting the FIFA World Cup. However, it came long few minutes later than it had seemed when Argentina went into the half-time break with a two-goal advantage.

1. Argentina 3-2 Egypt – USA 2026

When Argentina were drawn against Egypt in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the defending champions were expected to ease into the quarterfinals. Instead, they found themselves in serious trouble. Egypt took an early lead.

Argentina had the chance to equalise before half-time, but Lionel Messi missed from the penalty spot. Despite creating several opportunities, Argentina were repeatedly denied by Mostafa Shobeir, who stood firm in the Egyptian goal.

Early in the second half, Egypt thought they had doubled their advantage through Mostafa Ziko in the 58th minute. The goal was controversially ruled out by VAR for a soft foul on Lisandro Martínez at the other end of the pitch. However, Egypt refused to let that setback affect them.

Mostafa Ziko eventually found the net a few minutes later to double the lead and move his side one step closer to eliminating the defending champions. But Lionel Scaloni and Messi had other plans.

The Argentine manager’s decision to switch to a two-striker system and move Messi to the right wing completely changed the game. Messi set up Argentina’s first goal before scoring the equaliser himself. Both goals came in the space of four minutes to spark a remarkable comeback.

With the game seemingly destined for extra time, Enzo Fernandez rose highest to head home the winner in stoppage time, completing an incredible turnaround. Despite the controversy surrounding the match from Egyptian players and football fans around the world, the final quarter of the game produced one of the most dramatic spectacles of the tournament.

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