SaltaBall1930 – 2022
History & records
Every World Cup champion, the all-time records, and the matches that became legend.
Titles by nation
Brazil5
Germany4
Italy4
Argentina3
France2
Uruguay2
England1
Spain1Records & milestones
Most titles
Brazil — 5 (1958, '62, '70, '94, 2002)
All-time top scorer
Miroslav Klose (Germany) — 16 goals (2002–14)
Ever-present
Brazil — the only nation at every World Cup
Most finals reached
Germany — 8 World Cup finals
Most goals, one team, one match
Hungary 10, El Salvador 1 (1982)
Fastest goal
Hakan Şükür (Türkiye) — 11 seconds (2002)
Youngest scorer
Pelé (Brazil) — 17 years (1958)
The 2026 firsts
First 48-team finals · 3 host nations · 104 matches · first final halftime show
Greatest matches
Final1970
Brazil 4–1 Italy Final · Mexico City
Pelé's side finished a flowing team move through captain Carlos Alberto — still cited as the finest team ever assembled.
Final2022
Argentina 3–3 · 4–2p France Final · Lusail
Messi and Mbappé traded blows as the game swung from 2–0 to 3–3; Argentina held their nerve from the spot. Widely called the greatest final of all.
Drama1986
Argentina 2–1 England Quarter-final · Mexico City
Within four minutes Maradona scored the illegal 'Hand of God', then slalomed half the England side for the 'Goal of the Century'.
Miracle1954
West Germany 3–2 Hungary 
Final · Bern
The 'Miracle of Bern' — West Germany came back from two goals down to beat the seemingly invincible Mighty Magyars.
Upset1950
USA 1–0 England Group stage · Belo Horizonte
A part-time American team stunned the English in one of the biggest shocks the tournament has ever produced.
Comeback1966
Portugal 5–3 North Korea 
Quarter-final · Liverpool
North Korea raced 3–0 ahead before Eusébio scored four to drag Portugal back — a comeback for the ages.
Fairytale1990
England 3–2 a.e.t. Cameroon 
Quarter-final · Naples
Roger Milla's Cameroon, the first African side to reach a quarter-final, pushed England to extra time before falling.
Record1982
Hungary 10–1 El Salvador 
Group stage · Elche
The most goals one team has scored in a single World Cup match; substitute László Kiss struck a hat-trick.
Classic1938
Brazil 6–5 a.e.t. Poland 
Round of 16 · Strasbourg
Eleven goals in one tie; Leônidas scored four for Brazil in a chaotic, end-to-end classic.
Drama2022
Argentina 3–0 Croatia 
Semi-final · Lusail
Messi produced an assist for the ages, setting up Julián Álvarez after a run past Gvardiol to reach the final.
Honour roll
| Year | Champion | Final | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Argentina | 3–3 (4–2p) | France |
| 2018 | France | 4–2 | Croatia |
| 2014 | Germany | 1–0 a.e.t. | Argentina |
| 2010 | Spain | 1–0 a.e.t. | Netherlands |
| 2006 | Italy | 1–1 (5–3p) | France |
| 2002 | Brazil | 2–0 | Germany |
| 1998 | France | 3–0 | Brazil |
| 1994 | Brazil | 0–0 (3–2p) | Italy |
| 1990 | West Germany | 1–0 | Argentina |
| 1986 | Argentina | 3–2 | West Germany |
| 1982 | Italy | 3–1 | West Germany |
| 1978 | Argentina | 3–1 a.e.t. | Netherlands |
| 1974 | West Germany | 2–1 | Netherlands |
| 1970 | Brazil | 4–1 | Italy |
| 1966 | England | 4–2 a.e.t. | West Germany |
| 1962 | Brazil | 3–1 | Czechoslovakia |
| 1958 | Brazil | 5–2 | Sweden |
| 1954 | West Germany | 3–2 | Hungary |
| 1950 | Uruguay | 2–1 | Brazil |
| 1938 | Italy | 4–2 | Hungary |
| 1934 | Italy | 2–1 a.e.t. | Czechoslovakia |
| 1930 | Uruguay | 4–2 | Argentina |