Inter, World Cup finals and a record-breaking streak | OneFootball

The World Cup is how we measure the passing of time: we remember the first World Cup we watched as children, the heroes we saw growing up, the summer nights spent with friends cheering and celebrating. If the World Cup marks the years and cycles that shape our lives, Inter is our constant, the presence that stays with us every single day.

Different moments and different eras that, during World Cup summers, become intertwined thanks to the Nerazzurri's long-standing connection with football's biggest stage. Beyond the numbers, the players, the goals, and the unforgettable memories, there is one remarkable statistic that ties Inter to the World Cup: from 1982 onwards, at least one Nerazzurri player has featured in every World Cup final, a record streak shared with Bayern Munich through to 2022. Forty years of World Cups, forty years of unforgettable emotions that have marked our lives, forty years of Nerazzurri dominance.

SPAIN 1982 – ITALY 3-1 WEST GERMANY

The 1982 World Cup final, the edition that Italy won and the first year of the Nerazzurri streak, is a match forever etched in the hearts of Italians. The showdown was played at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu on 11 July 1982. Italy scored three goals, with the third coming from Alessandro Altobelli in the 81st minute, the strike that made it 3-0 and prompted President of the Republic Sandro Pertini to famously exclaim: “They’re not catching us now.” There were three Nerazzurri on the pitch in the World Cup final in Spain: alongside “Spillo” Altobelli, Gabriele Oriali and a very young Giuseppe Bergomi also featured against West Germany. In total, five Inter players became World Champions in 1982, with Ivano Bordon and Gianpiero Marini also part of Enzo Bearzot’s Italy squad.

MEXICO 1986 – ARGENTINA 3-2 WEST GERMANY

29 June 1986, Azteca Stadium in Mexico City: in front of more than 100,000 spectators, Argentina won their second World Cup. It was a tournament defined by the brilliance of Diego Armando Maradona. In the final, The Albiceleste raced into a 2-0 lead before West Germany fought back. The German comeback was sparked by goals from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, then an Inter player, and Rudi Völler. Burruchaga’s late strike would ultimately seal the trophy for Argentina, but Inter’s name once again found its place on the scoresheet thanks to Kalle’s goal.

ITALY 1990 – WEST GERMANY 1-0 ARGENTINA

The World Cup of the “Notti Magiche”, the tournament Italy had dreamed of and one that gave Azzurri fans unforgettable memories. However, Italy’s journey came to an end in the semi-finals after a penalty shootout defeat to Argentina. It was then Argentina vs. West Germany in the final, the same showdown as four years earlier. On their third consecutive attempt, the Germans finally lifted the trophy. On 8 July 1990 at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, West Germany defeated Argentina 1-0 thanks to a goal from another great Nerazzurri player, Andreas Brehme. The Inter full-back converted the decisive penalty with his right foot despite being naturally left-footed. It was a triumph that also crowned Lothar Matthäus and Jürgen Klinsmann, both Inter players who featured in the final against Argentina, as world champions.

USA 1994 – BRAZIL 3-2 ITALY (PENALTIES)

This was the last World Cup held in the United States before the edition that is about to kick off 32 years on from then. The final was played in Pasadena, California, under a scorching sun between Brazil and Italy. There was just one Nerazzurri player in the Italy squad: Nicola Berti, who played the full 120 minutes of the match. Two hours of football were not enough to separate the sides, and Brazil eventually triumphed on penalties, with misses from Franco Baresi, Daniele Massaro, and Roberto Baggio proving decisive in Italy’s defeat.

FRANCE 1998 – BRAZIL 0-3 FRANCE

12 July 1998, Stade de France in Paris: France won their first-ever World Cup in front of a home crowd. It was a historic and legendary victory over a sensational Brazilian team led by Ronaldo at the height of his “Fenomeno” powers. The same Ronaldo who, just a few months earlier in that very city, had inspired Inter to UEFA Cup glory. Ronaldo scored four goals during the tournament, but he was unable to deliver Brazil their fifth World Cup title. For that, the Fenomeno would have to wait another four years. Ronaldo was not the only Inter player on the pitch that day in Saint-Denis. Representing France was Youri Djorkaeff, who played 74 minutes before being crowned world champion alongside his teammates.

SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN 2002 – GERMANY 0-2 BRAZIL

This was the first-ever World Cup to be held in Asia and the first edition of the new millennium saw Brazil return to the top of the footballing world. The Seleção lifted their fifth World Cup, a record that still stands today, inspired by an incredible Ronaldo. He was the tournament’s MVP, top scorer, and the decisive figure in the final against Germany on 30 June 2002 at the International Stadium in Yokohama. The Fenomeno scored eight goals during the tournament, including the two that delivered the trophy to Brazil. His brace brought down Germany and decided the final.

GERMANY 2006 – ITALY 6-4 FRANCE (PENALTIES)

Another night forever marked in the memory of Italian fans: on 9 July 2006, the Azzurri won their fourth World Cup at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, defeating France on penalties after the match had ended 1-1 following extra time. The undisputed star of the night was Marco Materazzi. He scored Italy’s equaliser after France had taken the lead, was on the receiving end of Zidane’s infamous headbutt that resulted in a red card for the France captain, and then converted one of Italy’s five penalties in the shootout that sealed the Azzurri’s fourth world title.

SOUTH AFRICA 2010 – NETHERLANDS 0-1 SPAIN

The first World Cup ever held in Africa was won by Spain after extra time, thanks to a goal from Andrés Iniesta. Facing La Roja in the final were the Netherlands, led on the pitch by Wesley Sneijder. The Nerazzurri playmaker was coming off an unforgettable season in which he won the Treble with Inter, featuring the Coppa Italia, Scudetto, and Champions League. Sneijder also impressed at the World Cup, scoring five goals and leading the Oranje all the way to the final on 11 July 2010 at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. However, the Netherlands were ultimately beaten by Spain, who lifted their first-ever World Cup, having won the Euros two years earlier.

BRAZIL 2014 – GERMANY 1-0 ARGENTINA

The return of a World Cup classic: for the third time, Germany and Argentina faced each other in a World Cup final after their clashes in 1986 and 1990. This is the most-played final in the tournament’s history. The match took place at one of football’s most iconic stadiums, the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, on 13 July 2014. In an unforgettable atmosphere, Germany lifted the trophy thanks to Mario Götze’s winner in the 112th minute. The final in Rio could have brought Inter’s record streak to an end after eight consecutive World Cup finals. However, in the 78th minute, Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella brought on Rodrigo Palacio in place of Gonzalo Higuaín, extending the Nerazzurri run. Also on the Argentina bench that day were Hugo Campagnaro and Ricky Álvarez, both Inter players at the time, though neither featured in the match.

RUSSIA 2018 – FRANCE 4-2 CROATIA

Another final, another Nerazzurri goal: at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on 15 July 2018, France beat Croatia to win the World Cup. The match ended 4-2, but Croatia managed to keep the contest balanced throughout the first half. After France had taken the lead thanks to an own goal from Mario Mandžukić, Croatia equalised in the 28th minute through Ivan Perišić. The score remained level for ten minutes before Antoine Griezmann restored France’s lead just before half-time. In the second half, goals from Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappé, and Mandžukić sealed the 4-2 final scoreline. Perišić’s strike remains the most recent Nerazzurri goal scored in a World Cup final. Alongside him, Marcelo Brozović also featured for Croatia that day.

QATAR 2022 – ARGENTINA 7-5 FRANCE (ON PENALTIES)

The most recent final, the match feels like just yesterday for every football fan. Argentina vs France on 18 December 2022 in Lusail was one of the greatest games in football history. It was an extraordinary contest full of twists, with Argentina seemingly having wrapped up the match in the first half thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María, only for France to come roaring back late on through a legendary Kylian Mbappé brace. During extra time, the Albiceleste once again called on Nerazzurri talent with the introduction of Lautaro Martínez, whose arrival gave fresh energy to Argentina’s attack. It was from one of his attacking moves that Messi scored the goal for 3-2, a strike that appeared to secure the World Cup for the South Americans. Mbappé’s second penalty of the night, however, sent the final to a shootout, where misses from Kingsley Coman and Aurélien Tchouaméni proved costly. After 36 years, Argentina returned to the top of the world, and they did so with a Nerazzurri player in their ranks: Lautaro Martínez, now Inter’s captain.