The World Cup is where football’s biggest legends earn their real stripes. Every four years, the pressure cranks up, the stakes go through the roof, and only the very best teams can hold their nerve when the chips are down.
Over the years, some sides have stood head and shoulders above the rest, either for their outright brilliance or how they shaped how football was played from there on in.
From Brazil sides dripping with flair to ruthless German machines that simply knew how to get the job done, the tournament has produced teams that could blow opponents away or grind out results when their backs were against the wall. Below are the greatest teams in World Cup history, whether they won the lot or not.
GIVEMESPORT takes a look at the greatest footballers to ever play at the World Cup.
13 Germany (2014)
Germany’s 2014 squad earns its place on this list largely thanks to their astonishing 7-1 demolition of Brazil in the World Cup semifinals – a result that left the host nation’s fans in stunned silence and remains one of the most remarkable in tournament history. But that result wasn’t a one-off.
Joachim Low’s ruthless, well-oiled machine also stormed past Portugal 4-0 and overcame France and Argentina in the knockout stages, with Mario Gotze scoring the extra-time winner in the final to clinch the title. Philipp Lahm, Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil and Toni Kroos are all among the greatest German footballers of all time, and their world-class talent proved all too much for their opponents.
12 England (1966)
Bobby Moore 1966 World CupBobby Moore 1966 World Cup
England and “delivering when the chips are down” isn’t something you hear in the same sentence very often. But with Bobby Moore marshalling a side that also included Bobby Charlton and hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst, 1966 will forever be remembered as the year football came home, sparking decades of “nearly there” moments and a nation longing to relive that 4-2 extra-time win over West Germany.
Gordon Banks, England’s goalkeeper that famous day at Wembley, is still the subject of perhaps the most iconic commentary line of all time, paired with a save to match it. Meanwhile, Nobby Stiles, Alan Ball, and Roger Hunt were no slouches either and all played their part.
What people often forget, however, is that they had to get over one of their biggest bogey teams in the quarter-final with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Argentina. From that point on, it always felt like England had one foot in the door and their time in the sunshine was finally upon them.
11 Uruguay (1950)
Uruguay’s 1950 World Cup team is widely regarded as one of football’s greatest sides, built on grit, resilience, and an uncanny ability to rise to the occasion. They progressed through the group stage unbeaten, including a dominant 8-0 win over Bolivia and a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Spain.
But their defining moment came in the final round against hosts Brazil at the Maracana, in front of nearly 200,000 spectators. Needing only a draw, Uruguay produced one of the sport’s biggest shocks, coming from behind to win 2-1 in what became known as the “Maracanazo” (Maracana blow) as the South American underdogs claimed their second Jules Rimet trophy.
10 Argentina (1986)
Although the 1986 World Cup is rightly remembered as Diego Maradona’s tournament – where he dribbled, dazzled and duped his way past defenders to carry Argentina to glory (albeit with a helping ‘hand’ in one of his decisive goals) – it would be a mistake to see it as a one-man show in the same way Lionel Messi’s efforts in 2022 were.
With the industrious and all-action Jorge Burruchaga controlling the midfield, Maradona had the freedom to operate at his full brilliance. Oscar Ruggeri was the combative central defender who helped keep three clean sheets and stifled some of the world’s best attacks. And let’s not forget strike partner Jorge Valdano, who netted four goals – including one in the final – just one fewer than Maradona himself, as Argentina dispatched Italy, Uruguay, England, and Belgium on their way to a 3-2 win over West Germany at the Estadio Azteca.
England, Brazil, and Spain are among the current favourites for glory ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
9 Italy (2006)
It’s crazy to think how great of a fall from grace Italy has gone through since 2006, with no sign of that descent ending. That year saw a team featuring Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo, Francesco Totti, Gennarro Gattuso, and Marco Materazzi, among many others, win the Azzuri’s last World Cup knockout match.
Anchored by captain Fabio Cannavaro (who won the Ballon d’Or that year), Italy had one of the most complete sides in football history under Marcello Lippi, and beat Australia, Ukraine, and hosts Germany en route to the final. There, they would go on to win on penalties against France in a showdown best remembered for THAT Zinedine Zidane headbutt.
8 Netherlands (1974)
Led by head coach Rinus Michels and the larger-than-life Johan Cruyff – the on-field subscriber of his manager’s Total Football vision – the Netherlands introduced a fluid, positionally interchangeable system built on movement, passing and technical brilliance unlike anything the world had seen before in the 1970s. It made them overwhelming favorites to win the World Cup, but they ultimately fell short.
After sweeping aside some of the world’s best teams – including Argentina and Brazil – on their way to the final, the Dutch were stopped at the last hurdle, as West Germany produced a masterclass in discipline and man-marking to provide their ultimate antithesis and shut them down. But, even to this day, the blueprint the Oranje used all those decades ago is being copied by the likes of Pep Guardiola, and it’s that legacy that, somewhat arguably, is a greater success than any silverware could outweigh.
7 Brazil (1958)
The 1958 Brazil World Cup team was dominant and revolutionary, winning their first title with a 5-2 final victory over Sweden, becoming the first nation to hoist a Jules Rimet mantle outside of their own continent. Their squad featured a 17-year-old Pele and the brilliant Garrincha, leaning on a fluid 4-2-4 formation to showcase unmatched attacking artistry and technical brilliance.
In that tournament, Pele scored in the quarter-final, a hat-trick in the semi-final, and twice in the final. In total, Brazil scored 16 goals in 6 matches, showcasing an attacking flair that overwhelmed opponents, including France in the semi-final, with a mirror 5-2 scoreline to the one they raced away to in the following match.
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6 Hungary (1954)
Like the Netherlands, Hungary also go straight into the list of the greatest footballing nations to never win a World Cup. ‘The Magical Magyars’ were the big favourites going into the 1954 final in Bern, with the likes of Ferenc Puskas and Sando Kocsis dominating the tournament.
In fact, the golden generation only suffered one defeat between 1950 and 1956, which was the 3-2 final against West Germany. Two years before, they won the Olympic Games in 1952 – and so World Cup success had somehow evaded them.
5 Brazil (2002)
The 2002 Jogo Bonito side are the only Brazilian team to have won seven games in a World Cup tournament, and they cruised to the title, outscoring their opponents by 18 goals to four. They could defend as well as attack: They conceded just one goal in the knockout stages, and with Ronaldo scoring eight times on his way to a Ballon d’Or, they were both an irresistible force and an immovable object.
R9 was no doubt the poster boy of an unforgettable team, but with Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Dida, and a fresh-faced Kaka also in Luiz Felipe Scholari’s dressing room, it would’ve been difficult to fathom them missing out on glory that summer.
4 France (1998)
As hosts in 1998, France made the rest of the world look amateur on their way to a first-ever World Cup title. Les Bleus were imperious throughout, brushing aside the likes of Denmark, Italy and surprise package Croatia before dismantling Brazil 3-0 in the final – a statement win over the pre-tournament favourites.
While Zinedine Zidane stole the headlines with two goals in the final, the triumph was built on steel and structure. Didier Deschamps did the hard graft in midfield, acting as the “water carrier” in holding everything together. Behind him, a rock-solid defence of Lilian Thuram, Marcel Desailly, Laurent Blanc and Bixente Lizarazu kept things tight, with France conceding just two goals all tournament and never really breaking stride or sweat.
Kylian Mbappe is lighting up the 2026 World Cup as he looks to fire France to their second success in world football’s biggest competition since 2018.
The Real Madrid forward is firmly in the Golden Boot race against the likes of Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Vinicius Junior, having found the net four times in the group stages. Mbappe was crucial to his nation lifting the trophy in 2018, bursting onto the scene as a teenager.
He then had an incredible tournament four years later in Qatar. Despite his side having to settle for second place, the 27-year-old fired in a hat-trick in the final, something only Sir Geoff Hurst has previously managed.
Kylian Mbappe Wearing Different Shirt to France Teammates
Kyle Ross (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
That treble in the final against Argentina helped Mbappe to the Golden Boot in the 2022 World Cup. The versatile forward netted eight times in total, and was undeserving of being on the losing side.
He tends to step up on the big stage when his country needs him. Some eagle-eyed fans may have spotted a difference in the shirt Mbappe is wearing this summer compared to the rest of Didier Deschamps’ men.
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane are all expected to finish among the top goalscorers in this summer’s tournament.
The reason for that is his Golden Boot victory in 2022. Any active player who has won the individual award at the World Cup is allowed to wear a special patch on the sleeve of their shirt.
England’s Harry Kane and Colombia’s James Rodriguez are the only other players at the tournament this summer allowed to wear the patch, after winning the 2018 and 2014 Golden Boots, respectively.
The award has never been won back-to-back in the competition’s history. But with France being among the strong favourites and expected to go far, there’s every chance their talisman can scoop the honour once again. After all, he’s only four goals away from being the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer.
Mbappe: Lionel Messi Still the Best
Reuters/Maria Lysaker
While Mbappe is hunting his old Paris Saint-Germain teammate Lionel Messi down in the current Golden Boot race and the all-time scoring charts, he still concedes he has a lot to do to overtake the Argentine.
It was no surprise to Les Bleus’ number nine that Messi has continued to deliver on the big stage. He said (per ESPN): “I already knew Messi was going to keep scoring goals. He always does. He’s ahead of me and I’m behind him. I’ll keep scoring to help my national team go as far as possible.”
Following the greatest footballer of all time smashed a hat-trick against Algeria, Mbappe declared him still the best in the world. He claimed:
“It’s clear that Messi is the best in the world, and so is Cristiano [Ronaldo]. For 16 years, he [Messi] has shown his extraordinary talent. I’m just trying to do what I know how to do: show my talent on the biggest stage possible and help my national team.”
Newcastle United have lined up a deal to sign a midfielder this summer, as the Magpies face the possibility of losing some key players in the coming weeks.
A deal for the former seems the most likely, meaning Newcastle are on the market for replacements, and one target is now seemingly in the club’s sights.
Newcastle Add Felix Nmecha To Shortlist
According to a report from journalist Craig Hope, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha is on Newcastle’s shortlist as a transfer target for this summer.
The Magpies are described as “long-term admirers” of the 25-year-old, who has impressed in the Bundesliga as well as in the World Cup with Germany in recent weeks.
Nmecha has a release clause in his deal worth £73.5 million, though that doesn’t come into effect until next summer. That said, the report claims that there is hope a move can be negotiated for lower than that price.
There is likely to be some competition for Nmecha’s signature, as Manchester United have been linked with a transfer, along with fellow Premier League rivals Liverpool.
It remains to be seen whether Newcastle can get an agreement with both Dortmund and the Germany international over a potential transfer in the coming weeks as a result.
Newcastle are facing a tough summer transfer window, with Anthony Gordon’s exit set to be just the first of a few key moves away from the club.
Given the struggles in the Premier League last season, the Magpies will be keen to not be in a weaker position next campaign when it comes to the options available.
However, it may be the sales that help ensure that is the case. Selling some important players in favour of huge transfer fees could allow it to be reinvested in a way that will add a better balance of quality across the whole squad.
Newcastle United are in the market for a striker, as one star looks set to leave the club this summer.
That, in theory, should allow the team to become stronger. But that will only happen if the right transfer replacements are found for the right price.
That was the theory in practice last summer, with Alexander Isak’s sale generating a club-record fee, but resulting in the wrong options being signed to take his place.
Newcastle cannot allow a repeat of that, especially in the midfield engine room, which has been among the key areas of strength under Howe.
Yan Diomande’s early coach Faissal Chehade explains why Liverpool could be the perfect fit, and why his ceiling may be Ballon d’Or level.
Chehade, who worked with Diomande at Leganés, reveals on Market Madness what stood out from the very beginning: the confidence, the one-v-one ability, the training-ground moments that made coaches take notice, and the mentality behind his rise from rejection across Europe to becoming one of the most talked-about young players in world football.
He also breaks down why Leipzig was the right step, why Liverpool could give Diomande the platform to become “the main man,” and why he believes the winger has the potential to reach the very top of the game.
Chapters:
0:09 — Yan Diomande’s First Coach Reveals the Talent
2:07 — The Training Goal That Made Everyone Stop
3:36 — Why Yan Diomande Was Rejected Across Europe
4:21 — Why Leipzig Was the Perfect Move for Diomande
4:55 — Why Liverpool Could Be Yan Diomande’s Perfect Fit
8:02 — Yan Diomande’s Ballon d’Or Ceiling Explained
