As a World Cup comes around, it is a good time to look back on previous tournaments. The one thing that makes football special is goals and we have seen many fantastic goals in the history of the World Cup. Goals play a key role, not only in the outcome of matches at the World Cup but also World Cup 2022 predictions. Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals are both popular World Cup betting markets.
Goals are what win football matches but some goals are more beautiful than others. In the US Men's National Team there are a lot of players that can surprise fans with a great goal, so maybe the next player, who'll join the pack will be American. Remember that you can bet on the goalscorer in a match at the best bookmakers in the world and they prepare special offers for their player, which bettors can get access to with a special code like the BetRivers affiliate code.
Read on as we bring you the top 10 goals scored in World Cup history.
Diego Maradona’s individual goal against England in the quarter final of the 1986 World Cup is regarded by many as being the best in the history of the competition. Having collected the ball inside his own half, Maradona dribbled at the England defence, beating four players plus the goalkeeper to score in spectacular fashion.
This goal competes with the one above for the title of greatest goal in the history of the World Cup. While Maradona’s was individual brilliance, Carlos Alberto’s goal for Brazil in the final of the 1970 World Cup against Italy was a tremendous team effort. Tostao, Clodoaldo, Rivelino, Jairzinho, and Pele all had a role to play before Carlos Alberto fired the ball into the net.
With the 1998 quarter final between Netherlands and Argentina looking set for extra-time, Frank De Boer sent a 60 yard pass into the Argentina box. Dennis Bergkamp arrived and took the ball out of the air with a fantastic touch before moving the ball inside the defender and finishing with the outside of his boot into the far corner.
Colombia were one of the bright lights of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, with James Rodriguez the star man. His goal against Uruguay in the round of 16 was a magnificent volley from 25 yards. Rodriguez took the ball on his chest before firing a volley off the crossbar and into the back of the net.
When Mexico gave the ball away in the Argentina half little did they know what was going to happen next. Lionel Messi took the ball over the halfway lane, exchanged a one-two, and spread the play out to the left. Juan Pablo Sorin played a diagonal ball across to the corner of the box and Maxi Rodriguez was on hand to chest the ball and hit a looping volley into the far corner.
Remaining at the 2006 World Cup, we have another entry for Argentina and this goal was all about teamwork. The Argentina team started passing the ball inside their own half of the pitch, with Maxi Rodriguez, Javier Mascherano, Juan Roman Riquelme, Javier Saviola, and Hernan Crespo all touching the ball before Esteban Cambiasso applied the finishing touch.
When most people think about this goal in the 1982 World Cup final, the first thing that comes to mind is the iconic celebration. However, the goal itself was excellent. It started with a Cruyff turn in the centre of the pitch, followed by a back heel, and layoff to Tardelli on the edge of the box, who drove the ball into the corner of the net.
Saudi Arabia do not have a good record at the World Cup but in 1994, they scored one of the most memorable goals in the history of competition on their way to the knockout stages. Saeed Al Owairan collected the ball in his own half and embarked on a mazy run that took him beyond several Belgian players before lifting the ball over the advancing goalkeeper to score.
In a match that ended in disappointment for England at the 1998 World Cup, Michael Owen produced a fantastic goal. The striker took a pass from David Beckham in his stride and beat both Jose Chamot and Matias Almeyda for pace. With Paul Scholes a passing option, Owen went alone and sent the ball into the top left corner.
When it comes to pure strikes of the football, they do not come much better than Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s effort at the 2010 World Cup. In the semi-final against Uruguay, the Netherlands full-back unleashed a rocket from what must have been 35 yards out as the Dutch progressed to the final.
