What are the top 10 FIFA World Cup Finals of all time? | OneFootball

Since the first FIFA World Cup in 1930, hosted by Uruguay, there have been 22 editions of the tournament, several of which have gone down in football history.

The 23rd edition of football’s greatest tournament will reach its conclusion on Sunday, when Argentina and Spain face off in New Jersey for the coveted trophy.

Here at From The Spot, we rank the ten greatest FIFA World Cup finals of all time, ordered from least dramatic to most dramatic.

10. 1930: Uruguay 4 – 2 Argentina

The first-ever FIFA World Cup final was held at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay, marking the beginning of football’s greatest international tournament.

It marked the first time two South American nations met in a World Cup final, producing a historic and fiercely contested encounter.

Uruguay took an early lead through Pablo Dorado in the 12th minute, but Argentina turned the game around before half-time with goals from Carlos Peucelle and Guillermo Stábile.

Argentina appeared to have the game under control, but Uruguay responded with a dominant second-half performance.

Goals from Pedro Cea, Santos Iriarte, and Héctor Castro completed a remarkable comeback, securing Uruguay the first-ever World Cup title on home soil and marking the beginning of the tournament as we know it today.

9. 1970: Brazil 4- 1 Italy

This final took place at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and delivered a goal-filled encounter.

Brazil dominated most of the match and were praised for one of the greatest team performances in World Cup history.

Pelé opened the scoring with a header in the 18th minute, before Roberto Boninsegna equalised for Italy just before half-time.

Brazil dominated the second half, with goals from Gérson, Jairzinho, and Carlos Alberto—whose strike is regarded as one of the greatest ever scored in a World Cup final—securing the title.

8. 2010: Spain 1 – 0 Netherlands (aet)

This final took place at Soccer City (FNB Stadium) in Johannesburg, South Africa, and was a fiercely contested match, with 14 yellow cards and one red card shown to players.

Nine of those bookings were issued to the Netherlands, including two to John Heitinga, which resulted in his dismissal, while Spain received five yellow cards.

Both teams struggled to find a breakthrough in an intense, foul-heavy match, with no goals scored in regular time.

Spain finally broke the deadlock late in extra time, as Andrés Iniesta volleyed home from a pass by Cesc Fàbregas to secure the nation’s first World Cup title.

7. 1986: Argentina 3 – 2 West Germany

This final took place at the Estadio Azteca, in Mexico City and was full of dramatic tension.

Argentina opened the scoring through José Luis Brown in the 23rd minute, with his goal the only one of the first half.

Jorge Valdano doubled his side’s lead ten minutes into the second half, but their lead was short-lived as Germany mounted a late comeback through Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Rudi Völler.

As Germany believed the match could go to extra time, Jorge Burruchaga scored the winning goal in the 84th minute to secure Argentina’s second World Cup title.

6. 1966: England 4 –2 West Germany (a.e.t)

This World Cup was the first to be hosted on British Soil, and the final took place at Wembley Stadium in London.

It was the first and to date that England hosted a World Cup, and they went on to lift the trophy on home soil.

West Germany was the first to score in the 11th minute through Helmut Haller, before England equalised through Geoff Hurst before half-time.

Martin Peters took the lead in extra time for the hosts before Germany scored a late equaliser through Wolfgang Weber.

A further two goals from Hurst secured the title for England, but not without controversy, as the goals are being questioned today.

5. 2002: Brazil 2- 0 Germany

This final took place at the International Stadium in Yokohama, Japan, with Brazil becoming the only nation to claim five World Cup titles.

It took 67 minutes for the first goal to arrive, as Ronaldo scored from a rebound after a shot from Rivaldo.

Twelve minutes later, Ronaldo struck again to secure Brazil’s fifth World Cup title.

He had missed the 1998 World Cup final through injury, but this time he made up for it by leading his country to glory and sealing his first World Cup triumph.

He missed the 1998 World Cup final due to injury, but that changed when he sealed his first title with his country.

4. 2014: Germany 1-0 Argentina (a.e.t)

This final took place at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with only one goal separating the teams.

It took until extra time for Germany to break the deadlock, as substitute Mario Götze met André Schürrle’s cross with a stunning volley into the back of the net.

Lionel Messi came close to scoring on several occasions, which could have been a different outcome for Argentina.

Despite it being a close contest, the win saw Germany claim their fourth World Cup title.

3. 1950: Uruguay 2 – 1 Brazil

This was Brazil’s first time hosting a World Cup, with the final staged at the iconic Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Brazil took the lead early in the second half through Friaca, which sent the country and 200,000 fans at the Maracana into a frenzy and only needed a draw to win it on home soil.

Uruguay had other plans and responded through Juan Alberto Schiaffino in the 66th minute to level the match.

However, it was a late strike from Alcides Ghiggia that completed a remarkable comeback, silencing the home crowd and securing Uruguay’s second World Cup title in one of the most famous shocks in football history.

2. 2006: Italy 1- 1 France (5-3 pens)

This final took place at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany and was the most controversial World Cup final in history.

France took an early lead through a Zinedine Zidane penalty, before Italy responded quickly as Marco Materazzi headed home the equalizer.

The match remained tight and tense throughout, with few clear chances in normal time and extra time.

The defining moment came in extra time when Zidane was sent off after his infamous headbutt on Materazzi in his final professional match.

The match went to penalties, where Italy won 5–3 to claim their fourth World Cup title.

This final took place at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail, Qatar, and it was a match full of drama, excitement and easily one of the best finals ever.

It was Messi vs Mbappé on the grandest stage, with Messi aiming to finally secure his first World Cup title for Argentina.

Argentina led 2–0 for much of the match before a stunning French comeback, inspired by Mbappé, who scored a hat-trick to drag his side back into the game.

Messi then restored Argentina’s lead in extra time, only for Mbappé to complete his treble from the penalty spot and force a shootout.

Argentina ultimately won 4-3 on penalties to claim the title after an unforgettable final that will be remembered as one of the greatest ever played.