Top 10 Memorable World Cup Moments

We've all witnessed many memorable moments from the World Cup over the years and they're what make the tournament so special alongside the players that play in it.

The first World Cup I remember was the one in 2006 and my first memory was an unhappy one in England losing to Portugal on penalties. All I remember from that game was England losing and Wayne Rooney being sent off.

There have been a variety of moments at the World Cup including a young player bursting onto the scene, a small nation shocking a big nation, a wonderful goal being scored and even a moment of madness taking place.

The moments in the list are a mixture of all of them and it's about time I revealed it.

Now here is the list:

Brazil 1-7 Germany - 2014

Zinedine Zidane headbutts Marco Materazzi - 2006

England win a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time - 2018

Morocco reach the semi finals - 2022

Diego Maradona's goal against England - 1986

Diego Maradona's Hand of God - 1986

Kylian Mbappe bursting onto the scene - 2018

Pele becoming the youngest World Cup goal scorer - 1958

England win the World Cup - 1966

Senegal beat France - 2002

10. Morocco reach the semi finals

Morocco were the surprise package at the 2022 World Cup where they became the first African team to reach the semi finals.

They caused some upsets along the way beating Belgium in the group stage, Spain on penalties in the last 16 and Portugal in the Quarter Finals.

They finished top of a group very few people expected them to get out of as they finished ahead of both Croatia and Belgium who were the two favourites to qualify.

The success they had in Qatar will have inspired other African teams and got them believing that they can go far in future World Cups.

9. Pele becoming the youngest World Cup goal scorer

Pele was just 17 at his first World Cup in 1958 and he became the youngest ever goal scorer at the World Cup when he scored against Wales in the Quarter Finals.

The goal he scored was brilliant as he controlled the ball with his chest before flicking it around the defender before putting it in the back of the net.

This goal was the start of his journey towards stardom and him becoming the greatest player of his generation and arguably of all-time.

8. Kylian Mbappe bursting onto the scene

Kylian Mbappe arrived at his first World Cup in 2018 as one of the most exciting young players in world football after two impressive seasons at club level for Monaco and PSG.

He ended it as one of the best players in the world after scoring 4 goals and scooping the young player of the tournament award as France went all the way.

The game against Argentina in the last 16 was the one where he officially announced himself on the world stage as he scored twice and caused the Argentina defence many problems with his pace.

He ended his tournament in style by scoring the winning goal in the final against Croatia to win France their second World Cup.

7. Brazil 1-7 Germany

Brazil were arguably the favourites to win the World Cup in 2014 and especially as they were the host nation and for them to get completely ripped apart by Germany was completely unexpected.

They were missing two of their best players in captain Thiago Silva, who was suspended, and talisman Neymar, who was injured, but you'd still expect them to show a bit more than they did.

Germany completely ripped them apart in the first half as they went 5-0 up within the half hour with four of the goals coming within seven minutes.

This defeat wasn't just a humiliation for Brazil, it was also a capitulation as their heads dropped the moment they went behind and they would carry this into the third place play off against Holland to who they lost 3-0.

6. Senegal beat France

Senegal beating France in 2002 will go down as one of the greatest World Cup shocks in history when you consider the difference in quality between the two teams the fact that France were the defending champions at the time.

I don't think anyone had a Senegal side making their World Cup debut to beat a team like France and especially with the calibre of players they had like Henry, Vieira, Petit and Trezeguet.

They got the win by being physical in attack, getting in the way of every France shot and by getting men behind the ball to make it difficult for France.

This result set the tone for the tournament both teams would have as Senegal would go on to reach the Quarter Finals whereas France would crash out at the group stage.

5. England win a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time

England have had a lot of bad luck when it's come to penalties and especially at the World Cup and it was in 2018 against Colombia where they finally ended that hoodoo.

England had never won a World Cup penalty shootout heading into their last 16 tie against Colombia and to see them finally win one was a relief and a brilliant feeling.

I remember feeling both nervous and tense when watching the shootout as pretty much the entire country were because of it being a penalty shootout and England's poor record in them.

The moment Eric Dier scored the winning penalty, the tension turned into joy as I jumped off the sofa and celebrated.

4. Zinedine Zidane's headbutts Marco Materazzi

Zidane's headbutt on Materazzi in the 2006 final will always be one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history because of how shocking and unexpected it was.

The final was Zidane's last game in professional football and for a player of his quality to end his career like that was a shame to both himself and his team because France would go on to lose the final to Italy on penalties.

He rarely lost his cool on a football pitch until he stuck his head into Materazzi after Materazzi said something about his sister which clearly provoked him and lead him to headbutting him.

3. Diego Maradona's goal against England

Maradona's goal against England in 1986 was the goal of the century and easily the greatest goal of all-time because of the brilliant run he went on before scoring the goal.

He started his solo run inside his own before running with the ball at pace and beating four England defenders before rounding Peter Shilton on his way to putting the ball in the back of the net.

This goal proved to be the winning goal to send Argentina into the semi finals and it was one you simply had to admire because of how brilliant and beautiful a goal it was.

2. Diego Maradona's Hand of God

Maradona's Hand of God is one of the most iconic moments in football let alone the World Cup and is right up there among the most controversial moments in the history of the game.

He used his hand because he was small in stature and knowing that he wasn't tall enough to head the ball over Peter Shilton, he made a last minute decision and used his hand to punch the ball into the net.

The goal was given because the somehow didn't see him punch the ball into the net and had VAR been around in 1986, the goal would certainly have been ruled out because it was a clear hand ball.

1. England win the World Cup

There was only going to be one winner of this top 10 and of course it had to be England winning the World Cup in 1966.

Winning the World Cup is a brilliant feeling for any player because it's a trophy they've dreamt of winning from a young age and for England to win it must've been an incredible feeling.

England looked on course to win the game heading into the final minutes until Wolfgang Weber equalised a minute from stoppage time to take the game to extra time.

It was in extra time where the game was won as Geoff Hurst completed his hat trick with two goals during that period after scoring earlier in normal time.

MY TOP 10:

1. England winning the World Cup

2. Diego Maradona's Hand of God

3. Diego Maradona's goal against England

4. Zinedine Zidane's headbutts Marco Materazzi

5. England win a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time

6. Senegal beat France

7. Brazil 1-7 Germany

8. Kylian Mbappe bursting onto the scene

9. Pele becoming the youngest World Cup goal scorer

10. Morocco reach the semi finals