What are the best World Cup finals in history? Find out what the top finals are and where they rank based on the how entertaining and drama-filled they were!
Since the inaugural tournament in 1930, the World Cup has seen some of the greatest games in the history of football. But it’s the finals that draw the best crowds, the greatest atmospheres, and the highest stakes.
With the 2026 tournament taking place this year, here we will cover the best World Cup finals ever, remembering what has come before and what might be in store for the finale this summer. Read on for our run through, or if you think you can predict who will make it to the final this time around why not check out the latest World Cup odds?
Ranking system
We’ve ranked each game out of 40, based on four separate categories which are each scored out of ten:
Goals (0-10)
Entertainment (0-10)
Rivalry/Narrative (0-10)
Cultural impact (0-10)
So, if a game has more goals, twists, tensions, or lasts in the memory, it’ll receive a higher score. Whereas if it has fewer goals, is one-sided, no rivalry, and is somewhat forgettable, then it’ll receive a lower score. Make sense? Let’s get going…
10. Italy 3-1 West Germany (1982)
Score: 31/40
Goals: 8/10
Entertainment: 8/10
Rivalry/Narrative: 7/10
Cultural Impact: 8/10
With solid scores across the board, Italy’s triumph over West Germany is the first game on our list. This enthralling matchup was defined by Italy’s display of dominance, despite the resilience shown by West Germany, making it one of the greatest ever!
Heading into the game, there was already history between the two nations with their 1970 World Cup semi-final meeting ending 4-3 to Italy after extra-time. With this as the foundation, it set the stage for West Germany to attempt a revenge mission and created a heated narrative.
As four goals were scored during the match, this final was far from a snooze fest. Despite neither side scoring in the first half, every goal was scored within a 26-minute period, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats.
Paolo Rossi opened the scoring in the 57th minute and Italy’s dominance just flowed from there, giving them complete control in the game. Marco Tardelli followed this up 12 minutes later, before the result was sealed by Alessandro Altobelli in the 81st minute. Paul Breitner then pulled one back to make it 3-1, which, although not leading to anything, added a spark of hope and kept the tensions high!
With a missed penalty by Antonio Cabrini and late goals too, this game certainly ticked the entertainment factor and didn’t disappoint any viewers!
The game highlighted Paolo Rossi’s golden era, as he spearheaded the victory for Italy with the opening goal. Combining this with the game being widely considered as a classic, it can definitely be considered as having a cultural impact.
9. France 4-2 Croatia (2018)
Score: 31/40
Goals: 9/10
Entertainment: 8/10
Rivalry/Narrative: 5/10
Cultural Impact: 9/10
Coming up next is France’s recent clash with Croatia, which was the first six-goal final since 1966!
With it containing so many goals, it’s hard to argue that it wasn’t a fantastic viewing experience for fans around the globe. The game was extremely open, as the scoreline suggests, with it equalling the previous four finals’ combined total!
An own goal by Mario Mandzukic in the 18th minute opened the scoring, but Croatia pulled level only ten minutes later. The game remained close and competitive, but France took the lead before half-time when Antoine Griezmann converted a controversially awarded penalty after a lengthy VAR review.
Paul Pogba then fired France into a two-goal lead with a rocket from outside the box, and teenage star Kylian Mbappe scored a fourth to crush Croatia’s World Cup hopes. A goalkeeping error from Hugo Lloris then allowed Mandzukic score a consolation 20 minutes from time.
Though there was no rivalry between France and Croatia, it had the incredible storyline of Croatia being an underdog up against the footballing giants of France.
Considering the final was the first six-goal final for 52 years, and contained long-range goals, teenagers scoring, and VAR controversy, it just has to be considered one of the best!
8. Italy 1-1 France (2006) – 5-3 on penalties
Score: 32/40
Goals: 7/10
Entertainment: 7/10
Rivalry/Narrative: 8/10
Cultural Impact: 10/10
Who could forget a final as iconic as this? Despite not containing many goals, Italy’s win over France featured memorable moments throughout the game, making it a must-have on this list.
It wasn’t long before France took the lead, with Zinedine Zidane scoring one of the best penalties ever. Seven minutes into the game, France were awarded a penalty, and Zidane chipped it calmly down the middle of the net in remarkable fashion. This made him the fourth man to score in two World Cup finals after Pele, Vava, and Paul Breitner!
Only 12 minutes later, though, Marco Materazzi headed Italy level after a wonderfully delivered corner from Andrea Pirlo. Italy then ramped up the pressure, only being denied by goal-line clearances.
Despite the final being so open, the score remained level until it ended in penalties. This doesn’t mean there wasn’t any drama beforehand though, as Zidane created one of the biggest moments in the history the sport. The French midfielder headbutted Materazzi in the chest and received a red card in the 110th minute!
The game then ended with Italy taking home the win after winning 5-3 on penalties.
Being a rematch of the Euro 2000 final too, this game had a tension surrounding it, with Italy fighting to avenge their loss six years prior.
Though not containing the most goals, this final was extremely open, had unbelievable penalties, contained controversy, sendings off, and a dramatic shootout at the end, making it one of the greatest.
7. Brazil 1-2 Uruguay (1950)
Score: 32/40
Goals: 5/10
Entertainment: 7/10
Rivalry/Narrative: 10/10
Cultural Impact: 10/10
Though it wasn’t technically a World Cup final, it’s widely considered to be the final of the 1950 tournament, so it makes this list.
Prior to the game, Brazil were heavy favourites, as in the 1949 Copa America they racked up a +39 goal difference across the tournament with an average of six goals scored every game! Comparing this to Uruguay who had finished third from bottom with a -6 goal difference, there couldn’t have been more of a difference between the two teams.
Their South American rivalry was a great scene setter, alongside the pressure on Brazil to win as they were hosting the tournament too.
After an electrifying start, Brazil couldn’t manage to break the deadlock until the second half, with Friaca putting them in front early on. This put the Selecao in a fantastic position to win as, with the tournament’s format, they only needed a draw to win.
Uruguay then dragged themselves back into the game after Schiaffino scored a header in the 66th minute, providing hope. Brazil couldn’t resist their temptation to attack and, after failing to score any more goals, Uruguay’s Ghiggia snatched the win with only 11 minutes to go!
Late drama, regional rivalries, and the return of the tournament after 12 years all make this one that lasts in the memory.
6. West Germany 2-1 Netherlands (1974)
Score: 32/40
Goals: 7/10
Entertainment: 8/10
Rivalry/Narrative: 9/10
Cultural Impact: 8/10
The Netherlands team in this final was stacked with star players like Johan Cruyff, Wim van Hanegem, and Johan Neeskens, making them the favoured team by many. West Germany, however, were having none of it.
Cruyff won the Dutch a penalty two minutes into the game after dancing around the West German defence, and Neeskens converted from the spot. This gave the Netherlands the lead before the Germans had even touched the ball!
However, the Dutch decided not to push for another goal, which allowed West Germany to equalise through Paul Breitner in the 25th minute. Then, just before half-time, Gerd Muller made it 2-1 at his home stadium in Munich. Muller then grabbed another in the second half, but it was disallowed for offside.
Though not a rivalry as such, there was a real clash of footballing styles, with the match being centred around the Dutch’s ‘Total Football’ competing against West Germany’s efficiency.
As the game was incredibly competitive, had early penalties, a tactical clash, and concluded a new format for the tournament, it deserves its place here.
5. England 4-2 West Germany (1966)
Score: 34/40
Goals: 9/10
Entertainment: 9/10
Rivalry/Narrative: 7/10
Cultural Impact: 9/10
As England’s one and only World Cup win, their 1966 final against West Germany is immediately iconic off the bat.
Held on England’s home turf at Wembley, this final held a real weight for the Three Lions. West Germany got off to a good start, scoring 13 minutes into the game, but Geoff Hurst soon responded for England only six minutes later to bring the score level.
It looked like England were going to win the game in normal time after Martin Peters put them ahead in the 78th minute, but Wolfgang Weber equalised in the 90th minute to take the game to extra time! Despite the setback, England managed to push on, with Geoff Hurst scoring twice more to complete his hat-trick. This made him the first-ever player to get one in a World Cup final!
England went on to win the six-goal thriller, with Geoff Hurst writing his name into English folklore and the World Cup history books.
Considering both sides had long-standing footballing cultures, huge footballing traditions, and the fact there were post-war tensions, this matchup was a big one.
The game had everything, from goals and last-gasp equalisers, all the way to hat-tricks, making it an instant classic. Plus, with England winning their first, and only World Cup, it’s an extremely special match.
4. Brazil 4-1 Italy (1970)
Score: 34/40
Goals: 9/10
Entertainment: 9/10
Rivalry/Narrative: 6/10
Cultural Impact: 10/10
Brazil’s mastery of attacking football was present for all to see in this game, with stars like Pele, Jairzinho, Gerson, and Carlos Alberto all contributing to the scoreline. This team is often acknowledged to be the greatest World Cup side of all time, as they frequently blew teams away throughout the tournament.
Pele opened the scoring with a header at the back post less than 20 minutes into the game, giving Brazil the lead. But before half time, Italy made it 1-1 through Roberto Boninsegna after Brazil had a defensive disaster which allowed him to roll the ball into an open net.
The second half was where Brazil really shone though, as Gerson put the Selecao back in front with a stunner from outside the box in the 66th minute. Jairzinho then put Brazil further in front five minutes later, tapping the ball home from close range. Carlos Alberto finished off the game, completing one of the best team goals in World Cup history, as he rifled the ball into the bottom corner from the right side of the box.
Though there wasn’t much rivalry here, the cultural impact it had was resounding. It crowned Pele as one of the greatest ever players, winning him his third World Cup, and demonstrated some fantastic footballing brilliance from the Brazilian team, both individually and as a collective.
3. Argentina 3-2 West Germany (1986)
Score: 35/40
Goals: 9/10
Entertainment: 9/10
Rivalry/Narrative: 7/10
Cultural Impact: 10/10
If there was one player that could be used to sum up a tournament or a final, Diego Maradona at the 1986 World Cup is certainly someone you can make a case for. Argentina’s clash against West Germany was a battle between two top nations, especially considering they’d both appeared in recent World Cup finals.
Jose Luis Brown opened the scoring for Argentina 23 minutes in, heading home from a cross put in from the right flank. Jorge Valdano doubled their lead ten minutes after half-time, cooly rolling the ball past the onrushing West German goalkeeper Harold Schumacher.
West Germany then mounted a hard-fought comeback, with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Rudi Voeller both turning home corners in the space of six minutes to bring them level!
Just as West Germany had thought they could go on to win the game, Maradona slipped in Jorge Burruchaga who made it 3-2 with seven minutes left of the game! Maradona then went on to lift Argentina’s second World Cup in three tournaments and cemented himself as an Argentinian legend.
Considering the game had five goals, comebacks, late winners, and the narrative of Maradona’s tournament, it truly defined history as one of the best finals.
2. West Germany 3-2 Hungary (1954)
Score: 36/40
Goals: 9/10
Entertainment: 10/10
Rivalry/Narrative: 7/10
Cultural Impact: 10/10
A legendary game, summed up by its intensity and shock result, the 1954 World Cup final between West Germany and Hungary was a special one, often nicknamed ‘The Miracle of Bern’.
Before the game, Hungary were extreme favourites, having become the first overseas team to beat England at Wembley seven months prior, and having an average of 6.25 goals per game heading into the final. On top of all that, they had arguably the best player in the world in Ferenc Puskas.
It only took eight minutes for Hungary to establish a two-goal lead, with Puskas and Zoltan Czibor getting on the scoresheet. This didn’t deter West Germany, however, as only two minutes later, they pulled one back through Max Morlock. Then by the 18th minute, a header from Helmut Rahn made it 2-2!
After the equaliser, Hungary relentlessly attacked West Germany’s goal, hitting the post, the crossbar, and even forced goal-line clearances and exceptional saves from goalkeeper Toni Turek.
With only six minutes left of the match, Rahn rifled his shot into the bottom corner, putting West Germany in front against the run of play.
Being a result that’s considered to be one of the most major upsets in football history, this had a resounding impact on German sporting identity, and surprised the entire world!
1. Argentina 3-3 France (2022)
Score: 38/40
Goals: 10/10
Entertainment: 10/10
Rivalry/Narrative: 8/10
Cultural Impact: 10/10
Now regularly labelled as the greatest final ever, Argentina vs France in 2022 was a game that had it all. Heading into the game, it was framed as Lionel Messi up against Kylian Mbappe – a clash of two world-class footballers.
Argentina looked in control for the majority of the game, going 1-0 up after a Messi penalty in the 23rd minute. Then Angel Di Maria doubled the lead in the 36th minute, finishing off a wonderful move, spearheaded by Alexis MacAllister. It appeared as if France were out of the game until the 80th minute when Mbappe scored from the penalty spot, before he then scored an unbelievable volley to level the game only 90 seconds later!
After going to extra time, Messi looked to have won it for Argentina with his goal being given by goal-line technology in the 108th minute, but Mbappe struck again. France were awarded another penalty in the 118th minute, and he converted his second of the game to make it a hat-trick. This made him only the second player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final after Geoff Hurst!
Randal Kolo Muani almost grabbed the winner in the 123rd minute, but Emiliano Martinez made a wonder save with an outstretched leg to keep the game level! So, the match went to penalties. With Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni missing from the spot, Argentina sealed the win after Gonzalo Montiel slotted his penalty home.
Containing six goals, dramatic late goals, world-class saves, hat-tricks, and a tense penalty shootout, this just had to make the top of the list.
As this was the most recent final at the World Cup, who knows what could be in store in 2026? With France and Argentina among the favourites in the World Cup winner betting once again, we can only hope that the trend of six-goal thrillers continues from the last two finals.
