The Goal That Wasn't (Or Was It?) - 1966
Wembley Stadium, 1966. Hosts England were locked at 2-2 with West Germany. In the 101st minute, England striker Geoff Hurst received a cross from Alan Ball, spun, and fired a shot that cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and bounced down onto the goal
line. Swiss referee Gottfried Dienst was unsure, but after a tense consultation with his linesman, Tofiq Bahramov of the USSR, he pointed to the center circle. The goal was given. To this day, the debate rages: did the whole ball cross the line? Modern technology has suggested it did, but for decades it remained football's most famous controversy. Hurst would complete his hat-trick in the final minute, the only man to do so in a final until 2022, securing England's first and only World Cup.
A Moment of Madness - 2006
The 2006 final in Berlin was supposed to be the glorious final chapter of Zinedine Zidane's career. The French icon had already scored an audacious penalty to give France an early lead against Italy. But with the score tied 1-1 in the 110th minute of extra time, the narrative took a shocking turn. Following an exchange of words with Italian defender Marco Materazzi, Zidane, the picture of elegance and composure, shockingly headbutted Materazzi in the chest. It was a moment of sheer, unbelievable madness. The referee, after being alerted by his officials, showed Zidane a straight red card. The final act of his professional career was walking past the World Cup trophy he could no longer win. Italy went on to claim the title in the ensuing penalty shootout.
The Spanish Heart-Stopper - 2010
The 2010 final in Johannesburg was a brutal, cagey affair between Spain and the Netherlands. With the game goalless and just four minutes left in extra time, penalties seemed inevitable. Then came the moment Spain's golden generation had been waiting for. Cesc Fàbregas's pass found its way to Andrés Iniesta inside the penalty area. With a perfect touch, Iniesta let the ball bounce before volleying a powerful shot across the goalkeeper and into the far corner. He ripped off his shirt in celebration, revealing a message for his late friend, Dani Jarque. It was the latest match-winning goal ever scored in a World Cup final and it delivered Spain its first-ever world title, cementing the legacy of one of football's greatest-ever teams.
A Touch of Sublime Genius - 2014
Four years later, the final again went to extra time, with Germany and Argentina locked in a tense 0-0 stalemate at the Maracanã. In the 113th minute, German substitute André Schürrle made a driving run down the left flank and lofted a cross into the box. Waiting was another substitute, 22-year-old Mario Götze. He controlled the ball perfectly on his chest and, in one fluid motion, volleyed a left-footed shot past the Argentine keeper Sergio Romero. It was a goal of stunning technical quality, worthy of winning any match, let alone the World Cup final. Götze became the first substitute to score a World Cup-winning goal, securing Germany's fourth title and becoming the first European team to win the tournament on South American soil.
A Duel for the Ages - 2022
The 2022 final between Argentina and France is widely considered the greatest of all time, largely thanks to its breathtaking extra time. After France's Kylian Mbappé scored twice in 97 seconds to erase a 2-0 deficit and force the extra period, the drama was only just beginning. In the 108th minute, Lionel Messi scrambled the ball over the line to put Argentina ahead 3-2, seemingly sealing his destiny. But with just minutes remaining, France won another penalty. Mbappé stepped up again, coolly converting to complete his hat-trick—the first in a final since 1966—and tie the game at 3-3. The final moments saw a legendary save by Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez to deny a certain French winner, sending the epic contest to a penalty shootout that Argentina would ultimately win.
