The 5 Most Iconic World Cup Finals in Football History

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By Jonathan Lewis | 18th May 2023

The World Cup is arguably the most iconic sports tournament of all time. Every 4 years, the best international football teams from all over the world arrive on the big stage to compete for the coveted World Cup trophy.

Throughout history, there have been countless classic World Cup tournaments, such as South Africa 2010 and France 1998. Best of all, these tournaments have classic finals to go with them.

At the end of each World Cup is when the final takes place. The final consists of the two best teams who’ve successfully made it through the group stage, the round of 16, the quarter-final, and the semi-final to make it. It’s an impressive feat and is something that all international footballers are desperate to achieve. After all, your career in football is short — and you don’t get many opportunities to play in a World Cup.

If you’re a big fan of the FIFA World Cup, then it’s now time to take you down memory lane as we look back at the 5 most iconic World Cup finals in football history.

The 5 Most Iconic World Cup Finals in Football History

1. Argentina 3-3 France (Argentina Win Via Penalties) (2022 World Cup)

The most recent World Cup had the best final in the history of the competition.

Before the final kicked off, the script was written. You had Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, going up against France, with the fierce and youngest Kylian Mbappé playing up top. There was a lot riding on this final, as it’s highly likely going to be the last time that Messi plays in a World Cup final due to his age. He’d never won the competition before, so the pressure was on to deliver — and certainly did.

After an intense 90 minutes and extra time, which saw Mbappé grab a sensational hattrick, the final went to penalties. Everyone, including the 1.5 billion viewers watching at home, had sweaty palms as the two respective teams took their penalties. After some intense penalties, Argentina beat France 4-2, and Messi finally got his hands on the World Cup.

Before the 2022 World Cup started, thousands of fans bet on Argentina to win. This was a smart move, as many sportsbooks had France as the top picks — not Argentina. Of course, sports betting isn’t for everyone. If you aren’t sure which teams to bet on, you can build your gambling experience by playing online casino games on licensed platforms that are known for safe payment methods and a huge array of games, with sites like Spin Casino being notably popular for these reasons, among others. As you become more experienced, you might become more interested in sports betting!

2. Italy 1-1 France (Italy Win Via Penalties) (2006 World Cup)

The 2006 World Cup final had it all. From Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt to an electrifying penalty shootout, everyone remembers where they were when Italy took home the trophy and ruined Zidane’s retirement party.

3. England 4-2 Germany (1966 World Cup)

The greatest moment in England’s football history came all the way back in 1966 when they defeated Germany 4-2 in a hotly contested final. This final also birthed the iconic photo of football legend Bobby Moore lifting the World Cup while on the shoulders of his teammates.

4. Brazil 4-1 Italy (1970 World Cup)

For any Pelé fans out there, go ahead and re-watch the 1970 World Cup final. This featured Pelé in his absolute prime as he took Brazil all the way to the iconic golden trophy.

5. France 4-2 Croatia (2018 World Cup)

France stormed through to the 2018 World Cup final before dismantling Croatia in front of the world. This final stands out in particular due to the insanely high scoreline as well as the stunning performances by Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba.