What involves thoughts if you consider the highest males’s FIFA World Cup moments?
It might be Diego Maradona carving by means of England’s protection for the Aim of the Century. Or, a legend like Pele or Lionel Messi elevating the trophy up excessive into the sky. It might be one thing extra controversial, like Cristiano Ronaldo’s wink after getting Wayne Rooney despatched off.
When the World Cup involves North America this summer season, we’ll be in retailer for a lot of extra moments. It stays to be seen if they will make the pantheon of the perfect. Till then, we’re counting down essentially the most iconic, most controversial, most defining moments in males’s World Cup historical past.
2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch
The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Unfold throughout three nations, the event will culminate with the ultimate on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 event matches will air dwell throughout FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with each match streaming dwell and on-demand inside each the FOX One and the FOX Sports activities apps. A file 40 matches, greater than one-third of the event, will air in prime time throughout FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
[WHEN AND WHERE: Full Schedule for 2026 FIFA World Cup]
Main as much as the 2026 World Cup, this is our countdown of the 100 finest males’s moments in historical past:
No. 100: Pure Management, Pure Class, Pure Messi
In 2018, the stress on Lionel Messi was constructing. Argentina’s star captain had gone scoreless by means of two video games, together with a 3-0 loss to Croatia. He wanted to do one thing towards Nigeria. That is when the Messi magic appeared.
This contact from Messi saved Argentina 🤯 No. 100 in Finest FIFA World Cup™ Moments
Argentina went on to win the sport and advance. An unbelievable first contact from Lionel Messi that saved Argentina. And whereas La Albiceleste have been eradicated by eventual champions France within the spherical of 16, Messi’s elegant objective was maybe the perfect of the event.
No. 99: Purple Card for … Celebrating?!
Vincent Aboubakar made historical past for Cameroon when he scored a game-winning objective towards Brazil in 2022, the primary time an African nation had defeated the five-time champions in a World Cup setting. The issue was that he was then despatched off for extreme celebration.
A Purple Card to Keep in mind 🟥 No. 99 in Finest FIFA World Cup Moments
The Indomitable Lions have been nonetheless eradicated regardless of the win, with the Brazilians advancing to the knockout rounds. Nonetheless, it was punishment well worth the second of shirtless pleasure. It even appeared just like the referee felt a bit dangerous for having handy out that pink card.
No. 98: Cuauhtémoc Blanco Leaps Into Historical past
Attempting to shake off round two defenders? You must take into consideration attempting this trademark transfer created by one of many best Mexican gamers to ever dwell. It was so good, it is identified all through the world because the “Cuauhtemiña.”
This transfer was so WILD, they named it after him 🤯 No. 98 in Finest FIFA World Cup™ Moments
On the 1998 World Cup, Cuauhtémoc Blanco clamped the ball between his toes did his finest impression of a kangaroo by hopping between two South Korean defenders. It might not have produced a objective, however the participant from el barrio bravo de Tepito produced a transfer that has instantly leaped into the hearts and minds of soccer followers since.
No. 97: Klinsmann’s Roundhouse Flick
Lengthy earlier than he coached america males’s nationwide group on the 2014 World Cup, Jürgen Klinsmann scored a ton of targets for Germany, together with this stunner towards South Korea.
This volley was BEAUTIFUL 🇩🇪 No. 97 in Finest FIFA World Cup™ Moments
Klinsmann, who 4 years earlier had helped his nation win the World Cup for the third time, would flip what regarded like a routine go reception along with his again to the objective into one of the vital memorable targets of USA ‘94 with one swivel of his hips.
No. 96: This Free Kick Modified USA Soccer Historical past
The U.S. males’s nationwide group hadn’t made a splash on the World Cup in a long time – however that every one modified it the USA hosted the 1994 version. It was because of a wonder-goal towards Switzerland by the USA star Eric Wynalda.
This Free Kick CHANGED Historical past 🇺🇸 No. 96 in Finest FIFA World Cup™ Moments
Wynalda’s unstoppable, curling free kick simply earlier than the groups headed to the dressing rooms almost blew the roof off the Silverdome in suburban Detroit. The match ended 1-1. That time, plus an upset win over Colombia just a few days later, was sufficient to ship the USA to the second spherical, the place they took eventual champ Brazil to further time earlier than shedding 1-0.
No. 95: One Of the Finest Opening Targets Ever
In 2006, Germany legend Philipp Lahm scored among the best opening targets to a World Cup ever. From a distance, Lahm (sporting a solid on his proper arm following a current damage) curled the ball completely into the highest nook previous Costa Rica keeper José Francisco Porras.
You Could not Script a Higher Opening Aim 🇩🇪 No. 95 in Finest FIFA World Cup™ Moments
In fact, it was even sweeter because the Germans have been internet hosting the event with excessive hopes of successful all of it on dwelling soil. The hosts fell within the semifinals however Lahm’s wonderful approach and management on this objective in Munich can be one of many event’s highlights.
No. 94: A Volley For The Ages
Tim Cahill is arguably Australia’s finest males’s soccer participant ever and that is because of his means to attain in massive moments on the World Cup. That included this spectacular volley on the 2014 event in Brazil, the place he confirmed his approach and skill towards the Netherlands.
A volley for the ages 🦘 Finest FIFA World Cup™ Moments 🏆 No. 94
A looping lengthy go from one facet to the Porto Alegre pitch to the opposite, Cahill one-timed the shot into the web on the good angle because the ball kissed the underside of the bar. A stellar objective adopted by his trademark fighting-the-corner-flag celebration.
No. 93: This Rule Proved Too Merciless
This Rule Proved Too Merciless 🇫🇷 No. 93 in Finest FIFA World Cup™ Moments 🏆
A brand new rule was launched within the 1998 World Cup spherical of 16: Golden Aim. Rating in further time, and it’s over.
Hosts France have been deadlocked with Paraguay at 0-0 going into further time of their spherical of 16 matchup at Lens. The ball discovered Laurent Blanc on the fringe of the six-yard field, and he buried it to finish the match at 1-0. France superior; Paraguay was eradicated on the spot.
France went on to win all of it, however it might be one of many closing few nations to learn from the merciless rule, because it was scrapped altogether six years later.
No. 92: First Again-to-Again Champs
The First Again-to-Again Champs 🇮🇹 No. 92 in Finest FIFA World Cup™ Moments 🏆
It did not take lengthy for the World Cup to have its first dynasty.
After lifting the trophy on dwelling soil on the second-ever World Cup in 1934, Italy did it once more at France 1938, stamping its legacy without end.
Italy won’t be essentially the most well-known repeat World Cup champions of all time, however it’ll go down in historical past as the primary.
No. 91: A Aim That Deserved A Happier Ending
Archie Gemmill’s surprise objective for Scotland within the 1978 FIFA World Cup would have despatched them to the knockout stage in the event that they hadn’t fallen brief on objective distinction towards the Netherlands.
This Aim Deserved a Happier Ending 🥲 No. 91 in Finest FIFA World Cup™ Moments 🏆
Gemmill had Scottish followers dreaming of an upset towards one of many world’s finest sides. Within the 68th minute, the diminutive midfielder danced away from three Dutch defenders earlier than lobbing a left-footed end over the keeper Jan Jongbloed. With a two-goal lead, it appeared Scotland would advance.
But it surely was to no avail because the Dutch scored minutes later, leaving the heartbroken Scots questioning what might have been. As a substitute, the Netherlands superior on goal-difference and would go on to make a second consecutive World Cup closing look.
No. 90: The Final Workforce Aim
Is that this the perfect group objective ever? 🤔 No. 90 in Finest FIFA World Cup™ Moments 🏆
25 passes. 9 gamers. One iconic objective for Argentina.
On the 2006 World Cup (the primary one by which Lionel Messi appeared), Argentina confronted a stern check towards Serbia within the group stage. It was a kind of video games the place the underdogs knew they must be sharp on protection to maintain a much more proficient Argentina facet at bay.
Besides it did not work that method, and Argentina pounced from the get-go with an early objective within the sixth minute by Maxi Rodriguez. And that is when the Albiceleste magic took over. Within the thirty first minute, a affected person ballet of teamwork that concerned a mixture of on-target passes led to Hernán Crespo looping a ball to early-match substitute Esteban Cambiasso. Aim, Argentina.
4 extra adopted – together with Messi’s first ever at a World Cup. However Cambiasso’s strike stood above all that day.
Till the beginning of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11, FOX Sports activities is counting down the highest 100 moments in event historical past. Examine again day by day for a brand new second.
