The FIFA World Cup Final. It's the apex of sporting competition, the stage where legends are forged and dreams are realised or shattered in 90 minutes, or sometimes more. Billions watch, nations hold their breath, and history is written with every kick of the ball. Scoring any goal in a World Cup final guarantees a place in football folklore, but some strikes transcend the moment, becoming iconic snapshots of brilliance, drama, and destiny.
Narrowing down the greatest goals from these pressure-cooker encounters is a task filled with debate, but certain moments shine brighter than others due to their sheer technical skill, the magnitude of their impact, or the poetry of their creation. Here are ten goals that didn't just find the net; they echoed around the globe and cemented their place in World Cup final history.
10. Emmanuel Petit (France vs. Brazil, 1998)
The Context: France led the reigning champions Brazil 2-0 deep into injury time at the Stade de France. The hosts were already dreaming, but Brazil desperately pushed forward.
The Goal: A Brazilian corner broke down, and Christophe Dugarry launched a counter. Patrick Vieira picked it up, strode forward with purpose, and threaded a perfect through ball into the path of the galloping Emmanuel Petit. The pony-tailed midfielder, charging from deep, coolly slotted the ball past Claudio Taffarel with his left foot.
Why It's Great: It was the definitive C'est fini! The goal itself was a beautifully executed counter-attack, showcasing French power and precision. Petit, a defensive midfielder, finishing with such composure under pressure perfectly encapsulated France's dominant performance and sealed their first-ever World Cup triumph on home soil.
9. Kylian Mbappé (France vs. Argentina, 2022 - Second Goal/Volley)
The Context: France looked dead and buried, trailing 2-0 with just over 10 minutes left in Lusail. Mbappé had just pulled one back from the penalty spot, injecting sudden hope.
The Goal: Barely 90 seconds after his penalty, Marcus Thuram won the ball back. Mbappé headed it to Thuram, continued his run, and met Thuram's chipped return pass with an absolutely stunning right-footed volley just inside the area, blasting it past Emiliano Martínez before the keeper could react.
Why It's Great: Pure, explosive brilliance under immense pressure. To score one goal to get back into the final was huge; to score a technically astounding volley moments later to equalize was breathtaking. It showcased Mbappé's incredible talent and single-handedly dragged France back from the brink in arguably the most dramatic final ever.
8. Zinedine Zidane (France vs. Italy, 2006 - Penalty)
The Context: An early penalty awarded to France in the Berlin final. The stakes couldn't be higher, facing arguably the world's best goalkeeper at the time, Gianluigi Buffon.
The Goal: Zidane stepped up, took a short run-up, and nonchalantly chipped the ball down the middle – a 'Panenka'. Buffon dived left, the ball floated, kissed the underside of the crossbar, and bounced down over the line.
Why It's Great: The sheer audacity. To attempt, and execute, a Panenka penalty in the opening minutes of a World Cup final takes extraordinary nerve and confidence. It was a moment of impudent genius from one of the game's greats, even if his final later ended in infamy.
7. Geoff Hurst (England vs. West Germany, 1966 - Second Goal)
The Context: The score locked at 2-2 in extra time at Wembley. England were pushing for the lead in front of their home crowd.
The Goal: Alan Ball fizzed in a cross from the right. Hurst controlled it near the penalty spot, swivelled, and unleashed a powerful shot that cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and bounced down. After consultation between the referee and linesman Tofiq Bahramov, the goal was given.
Why It's Great: Controversy and significance. Was it over the line? The debate still rages decades later. But it was the goal that put England ahead in extra time, a pivotal moment in their only World Cup triumph. Its iconic status, coupled with the drama and lingering uncertainty, makes it unforgettable.
6. Jorge Burruchaga (Argentina vs. West Germany, 1986)
The Context: West Germany had fought back from 2-0 down to level the final at 2-2 with under 10 minutes remaining at the Azteca Stadium. Momentum seemed to be with the Germans.
The Goal: Diego Maradona, tightly marked near the centre circle, received the ball and, with sublime vision, instantly flicked a perfectly weighted through pass into space. Jorge Burruchaga raced onto it from midfield, bearing down on Harald Schumacher's goal, and calmly slotted the ball past the advancing keeper.
Why It's Great: The match-winner, orchestrated by genius. Maradona's pass was exquisite, unlocking the German defence in a split second. Burruchaga's lung-bursting run from deep and composed finish under immense pressure secured Argentina's second World Cup, cementing Maradona's tournament dominance.
5. Marco Tardelli (Italy vs. West Germany, 1982)
The Context: Italy led 1-0 early in the second half at the Santiago Bernabéu. They were starting to assert control but needed to consolidate their lead.
The Goal: A swift Italian move saw Gaetano Scirea surge forward. After a scramble on the edge of the box, the ball broke to Marco Tardelli, who took a touch and drilled a powerful left-footed shot across Schumacher into the bottom corner.
Why It's Great: The goal itself was a fine strike, but it's elevated to legendary status by the celebration. Tardelli sprinted away, arms pumping, head shaking, tears welling, screaming with pure, unadulterated joy and disbelief. It's perhaps the most iconic World Cup celebration ever, perfectly capturing the emotion of scoring a crucial goal in the final.
4. Pelé (Brazil vs. Sweden, 1958 - First Goal)
The Context: A 17-year-old Pelé, already a sensation, was playing in his first World Cup final. Brazil led 2-1 against the hosts in Stockholm.
The Goal: Pelé received a high ball into the box with his chest, incredibly cushioned it down, nonchalantly flicked it over the head of the bewildered Swedish defender Bengt Gustavsson, and then volleyed it clinically past the goalkeeper Kalle Svensson.
Why It's Great: The arrival of a global superstar. The skill, composure, and audacity shown by a teenager on the biggest stage were simply staggering. It was a moment of pure Brazilian magic that announced Pelé's genius to the world and helped Brazil secure their first World Cup title.
3. Mario Götze (Germany vs. Argentina, 2014)
The Context: A tight, attritional final at the Maracanã remained deadlocked at 0-0 deep into extra time. Penalties loomed.
The Goal: André Schürrle burst down the left flank and delivered a searching cross into the box. Mario Götze, who had come on as a substitute, controlled the ball sublimely on his chest while on the run, and in almost the same motion, swivelled and volleyed it perfectly across Sergio Romero into the far corner with his left foot.
Why It's Great: An exquisite moment of technique to win the World Cup. The chest control was perfect, the finish immaculate, all executed under the immense pressure of the dying moments of extra time. It was a goal worthy of winning any final, combining grace, skill, and clinical execution.
2. Andres Iniesta (Spain vs. Netherlands, 2010)
The Context: A brutal, ill-tempered final in Johannesburg was somehow still goalless with just minutes left in extra time. The Netherlands were down to 10 men.
The Goal: Cesc Fàbregas threaded a pass into the box. The ball deflected slightly but fell perfectly for Andres Iniesta, who took one touch to control it and then drilled a precise right-footed half-volley across Maarten Stekelenburg into the net.
Why It's Great: The goal that ended decades of Spanish underachievement and delivered their first World Cup. In a final more remembered for its physicality, Iniesta provided a moment of decisive quality. The control, the finish under pressure, and the sheer relief and joy (famously revealing a tribute to Dani Jarque) make it incredibly iconic.
1. Carlos Alberto (Brazil vs. Italy, 1970)
The Context: Brazil were already leading Italy 3-1 late in the final at the Azteca Stadium, playing arguably the greatest football ever seen.
The Goal: It began deep in Brazil's half. Clodoaldo embarked on a mesmerizing dribble past four Italian players. The ball moved forward involving multiple players – Rivelino, Jairzinho, and then crucially, Pelé, holding the ball up just outside the Italian penalty area. With seemingly psychic awareness, Pelé rolled the ball perfectly into space to his right, precisely into the path of the onrushing captain, Carlos Alberto, who met it with an unstoppable, first-time thunderbolt of a shot that flew into the bottom corner.
Why It's Great: It's widely regarded as the ultimate team goal. Almost every outfield player touched the ball in the build-up, showcasing patience, individual skill (Clodoaldo's dribble), awareness, and perfect execution. Pelé's pass was weighted to perfection, and Carlos Alberto's finish was emphatic. It was the stunning exclamation point on Brazil's dominant victory and the perfect embodiment of 'Joga Bonito' – the beautiful game played to perfection. A goal that wasn't just scored, but composed.
These ten goals represent just a fraction of the drama and brilliance witnessed in World Cup finals, but they stand as timeless examples of skill, nerve, and history being made when it matters most. Which goal is your favourite? The debate, like the memories, will live on forever.
