👑 V · Coronations
The moments a captain lifted the trophy and a country lost its mind. The finals won, the golden goals, the last kicks — football's ultimate prize raised to the sky.
Part of World Cup
16 moments in this segment.
- — Uruguay win the first World Cup. Hosts Uruguay beat Argentina 4–2 in Montevideo to win the inaugural 1930 World Cup final — the first nation ever crowned champions of the world, in a stadium built specially for the tournament.
- — Italy win their first on home soil. Vittorio Pozzo's Italy beat Czechoslovakia in extra time to win the 1934 final in Rome — the first of back-to-back titles for the only manager ever to win two World Cups.
- — Brazil win their first — Sweden 1958. A teenage Pelé and Garrincha lead Brazil to a 5–2 win over hosts Sweden in the 1958 final — Brazil's first World Cup, the birth of the most successful footballing nation on earth.
- — Garrincha carries Brazil in 1962. With Pelé injured early, Garrincha takes over the 1962 tournament in Chile, dazzling defences as Brazil beat Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final to retain the cup.
- — England win at home — "they think it's all over". England beat West Germany 4–2 after extra time at Wembley to win their only World Cup; Kenneth Wolstenholme's "they think it's all over — it is now!" as Hurst completes his hat-trick is football's most famous commentary.
- — Argentina win at home amid the ticker-tape. Mario Kempes leads hosts Argentina to a 3–1 extra-time win over the Netherlands in the 1978 final, in a Buenos Aires stadium buried under ticker-tape — a first title under the eyes of the ruling junta.
- — Paolo Rossi fires Italy to glory in 1982. Paolo Rossi, just back from a betting ban, scored six goals including a hat-trick against Brazil to drag Italy to the 1982 title — beating West Germany 3–1 in the final as Sandro Pertini cheered from the stands.
- — Maradona lifts the cup in 1986. Argentina beat West Germany 3–2 in the 1986 final, Burruchaga scoring the winner after a Maradona pass — completing the most one-man World Cup of all time.
- — West Germany win their last as a nation divided. A single Andreas Brehme penalty beats Argentina in a bad-tempered 1990 final — West Germany's third star, won months before reunification, under captain Lothar Matthäus.
- — Brazil win the first final decided on penalties. After 120 goalless minutes, Brazil beat Italy in the first World Cup final ever decided by a shootout — Roberto Baggio's miss handing Romário and Dunga the trophy in 1994.
- — France win at home — Zidane's two headers. Zinedine Zidane heads twice and Emmanuel Petit adds a third as France beat Brazil 3–0 to win their first World Cup on home soil in 1998 — a multicultural team uniting the nation.
- — Italy win on penalties — Grosso's spot kick. After Zidane's headbutt and a 1–1 draw, Italy beat France on penalties in the 2006 final, Fabio Grosso scoring the decisive kick to win the Azzurri's fourth star in Berlin.
- — Iniesta wins it for Spain. Deep in extra time of the 2010 final, Andrés Iniesta volleys home against the Netherlands to win Spain's first-ever World Cup — and reveals a shirt dedicated to his late friend Dani Jarque.
- — Götze's golden touch wins it for Germany. Mario Götze chests down a cross and volleys home in extra time of the 2014 final against Argentina, crowning Germany champions at the Maracanã and ending Messi's first shot at the trophy.
- — Brazil 1970 — Carlos Alberto's perfect goal. The greatest team ever crowns the greatest team goal: a flowing move finished by captain Carlos Alberto in the 1970 final against Italy, the third star on Brazil's shirt and the apex of jogo bonito.
- — Messi completes football — the 2022 final. Argentina beat France on penalties after a 3–3 epic widely called the greatest final ever, and Lionel Messi finally lifts the World Cup — the one prize that had eluded him, in the last act of his international career.
