Key Takeaways
- Argentina’s 2022 World Cup final win against France is widely seen as the greatest tournament final in football history.
- Liverpool FC produced the most famous comeback in Champions League history when they beat AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005.
- Hungary’s 6-3 victory over England in 1953 changed football tactics forever and introduced the world to the Mighty Magyars.
Football fans love to debate the greatest matches ever played. Recently, a wild Champions League game between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich started fresh discussions about the sport’s finest moments. Here are six matches that stand above the rest.
The 2022 World Cup final in Qatar provided perhaps the best entertainment in the competition’s long history. Two superstars dominated the pitch: Lionel Messi scored twice for Argentina and controlled the game, while Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick for France, including two goals in just 95 seconds. Ángel Di María played brilliantly for Argentina, and goalkeeper Emi Martínez made a sensational save in extra time against Randal Kolo Muani. Martínez also stopped Kingsley Coman’s penalty in the shootout. This match will always belong to Messi. It was the moment he escaped Diego Maradona’s shadow and became the true hero for all Argentinians.
No list of great games is complete without the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul. Liverpool FC were losing 3-0 to AC Milan at half-time. Manager Rafa Benítez made clever changes, bringing on Dietmar Hamann. Captain Steven Gerrard led the fightback, and the team scored three goals to force extra time. Goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek made a stunning double save against Andriy Shevchenko in the final moments of extra time. Then at 12:29am local time, Dudek saved Shevchenko’s penalty again to win the trophy. Andrea Pirlo, who played for Milan, later wrote in his book: “I will never lose the feeling of total helplessness when destiny works against you.”
FC Barcelona created history in 2017 with their incredible comeback against Paris Saint-Germain. After losing 4-0 in the first leg in Paris, Barcelona needed a miracle at the Camp Nou. They won 6-1 on the night, making the aggregate score 6-5. Sergi Roberto scored the winning goal in the final seconds, sparking wild celebrations in Catalonia.
Brazil produced a classic in 2011 when Santos faced Flamengo. The match finished 5-4 to Flamengo. Young Neymar, then a teenager at Santos, scored two brilliant goals, including a solo effort that later won the Puskas award. He also won a penalty and provided a bicycle-kick assist. However, Ronaldinho, playing for Flamengo after returning from Europe, was the true master. He scored a clever free-kick under the wall and netted the late winner. Flamengo’s goalkeeper Felipe even taunted Santos player Elano with keepy-uppy after saving his Panenka penalty.
The 1970 World Cup semi-final between Italy and West Germany became known as “The Match of the Century.” The game at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico saw five goals in extra time. Franz Beckenbauer played with a dislocated shoulder in a sling because West Germany had used all their substitutions. Karl-Heinz Schnellinger equalised late for Germany, but Gerd Müller’s two goals were not enough. Italy equalised twice before Gianni Rivera scored the winner. If he had missed, the match would have been decided by a coin toss.
Finally, England’s 6-3 defeat to Hungary at Wembley in 1953 changed football forever. Ferenc Puskás led the Mighty Magyars with a new 4-2-4 formation that confused the English defence. The Guardian newspaper reported that Hungary could have scored ten goals. They beat England 7-1 in Budapest the following year. The Magyars went into the 1954 World Cup as clear favourites, and their only defeat in six years came in the final against West Germany in the Miracle of Bern.