40+ of the Most Iconic Goals in World Cup History
This article appeared in www.ballercap.com and has been published here with permission.Marco Tardelli, 1982, Italy vs Germany
This powerful left-footed shot saw Tardelli blast home a goal for Italy from the edge of the box. But while his venomous strike was no doubt impressive, his celebration was even more memorable as he charged down the field screaming to celebrate with his teammates.
With this goal, Tardelli sealed a 3-1 win over Germany and with it, the 1982 FIFA World Cup trophy for the Azzuri.
Siphiwe Tshabalala, 2010, South Africa vs Mexico
As the host nation, South Africa was eager to impress as they faced Mexico in the tournament’s opening game. Early in the second half, “Bafana Bafana” launched a blistering counter-attack against the Mexicans, with Simphiwe Tshabalala firing his shot into the top right corner as the stadium erupted.
This goal handed South Africa the draw in what was a competitive 1-1 encounter that set the stage for the thrills that were yet to come.
Ronaldo, 2002, Brazil vs Germany
Before the World Cup final, many wondered whether Brazil’s star striker would make a full recovery from injury. Soon enough, they would get their answer. After scoring in the 67th minute to hand Brazil the lead, Ronaldo would score again, this time one of the goals of the tournament.
After Rivaldo’s dummy tricked the German defense, Ronaldo curled the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal to hand Brazil the World Cup trophy.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 2018, Portugal vs Spain
Stuck in the “group of death” alongside Spain, Portugal was hungry to grab a win over their Iberian rivals in the hopes of securing a place in the knockouts. With his team trailing 3-2, Portugal talisman Ronaldo decided to step up when his side was awarded a crucial free kick.
Ronaldo bolted his free kick into the top corner of the goal, thereby grabbing a hat trick and earning his team a vital draw.
As the 2022 World Cup in Qatar thrills spectators, many dedicated soccer fans will be recalling their most beloved memories of the world’s most popular sporting event. Naturally, many of these recollections will consist of breathtaking goals – some of which will be recalled for their magnificence and others which will be remembered for their after-effects. Let’s look at some of the most iconic goals in World Cup history.