Top 10 Moments of the 2022 World Cup

jonjoward1998
May 28
7 min read

The 2026 World Cup is just weeks away and as we look ahead to that tournament, I've decided to look back at the best moments from the last World Cup in Qatar four years ago.

The 2022 World Cup was a World Cup like no other as it was played at a different time of year and was filled with controversy in the build up to it.

But it was still a World Cup that delivered as we witnessed moments that we didn't see coming, the best players in the world lighting up the world stage and both brilliant games and brilliant goals.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino described this World Cup as the best one ever and I can understand why he would say that because it produced some incredible moments.

Some of those incredible moments are in the list and speaking of the list, here it is:

Morocco reach the semi finals

The final between Argentina and France

Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia

Belgium go out at the group stage

Harry Kane's missed penalty against France

Germany going out at the group stage again

Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup

Holland 2-2 Argentina

Japan beating both Germany and Spain

South Korea's late win over Portugal

South Korea's late win over Portugal

South Korea were bottom of their group and just moments away from going out at the group stages during their final group game against Portugal and had to score one more goal to go through, hoping that Uruguay wouldn't build on their two-goal lead over Ghana.

They were trailing after just five minutes when Ricardo Horta put Portugal in front and it looked like Portugal were going to build on their lead given the quality of players they had at their disposal.

But Kim Young-Gwon pegged them back by equalising just before the half hour mark to keep South Korea's hopes of reaching the last 16 alive.

When the game entered stoppage time, Portugal had a corner that South Korea cleared before hitting Portugal on the counter as Heung Min Son ran with the ball into the opposition half before playing in Hwang Hee Chan to score and send South Korea into the last 16.

Harry Kane's missed penalty against France

Harry Kane's missed penalty against France shocked pretty much everyone because he's usually so reliable from 12 yards.

He scored from the spot earlier in the game to level the score at 1-1 and he had the chance to level the score from the spot again after Olivier Giroud restored France's lead.

But he uncharacteristically skied his penalty over the bar and had he scored it, he would've been England's record goal scorer sooner as his equaliser put him level with Wayne Rooney on the all-time goal charts.

I felt the reaction to his penalty miss was over the top because there were a number of England fans calling him to be removed from the team despite him being their captain and one goal away from becoming the record goal scorer.

Belgium going out at the group stage

Belgium going out at the group stage was completely unexpected because of the quality of side they were and the calibre of players they had.

Pretty much everyone was expecting them to finish top of a group containing Canada, Croatia and Morocco, but instead they finished 3rd behind Croatia and Morocco.

This tournament marked the end or the beginning of the end of their golden generation because they were an ageing team with most of their squad being on the other side of 30, and their performances showed it as they looked leggy and low on energy in all three of their group games.

Germany going out at the group stage again

If you thought Germany going out at the group stages in Russia in 2018 was a big shock, going out at the group stages again four years later in Qatar was almost as big a shock.

They were a team in transition at the time and their team wasn't the greatest, but you'd still have expected them to get out of a group involving Spain, Japan and Costa Rica.

They lost their opening game 2-1 against Japan and looked set for another early exit only for a 1-1 draw against Spain to keep their hopes alive.

They did win their final game 4-2 against Costa Rica, but they went out at the group stages yet again because of Spain having a superior goal difference.

The pressure will be on them to get out of their group this summer because of what happened at the last two World Cup's.

Japan beating both Germany and Spain

Japan have been a surprise package at previous World Cup's and they were one of them again in Qatar as they beat both Spain and Germany to finish top of their group.

They were a goal behind in both games and for them to show character and come from behind to win both deserved a lot of credit.

Their winning goal against Spain was controversial as the ball appeared to have gone out of play in the lead up to the goal only for VAR to intervene and give the goal because the whole of it wasn't over the line.

They'll be looking to cause more upsets at this summer's World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico and it wouldn't surprise me if they did.

Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia beating Argentina was hands down the shock of the tournament because of the size of both countries and the difference in quality between the two sides.

Argentina went into the World Cup on an incredible run of form going back two or three years and were one of the pre-tournament favourites as a result of it.

Argentina could've had the game won in the first half only for two of their goals to be disallowed for offside by VAR after Lionel Messi put them ahead from the penalty spot.

But Saudi came out with more energy in the second half and scored twice in six minutes before holding on for an unlikely win against Messi and co.

Argentina would not let this defeat phase them one bit as they would go on and win the tournament just like Spain did in "010 after they lost their opening game of that World Cup to Switzerland.

Holland 2-2 Argentina

The Quarter Final between Holland and Argentina was a game that had pretty much everything in goals, drama and many on-pitch scraps.

Argentina were in control for the majority of the game and were 2-0 up heading into the final ten minutes of the game.

But that all changed when the Dutch brought Wout Weghorst on as he changed the game by causing Argentina problems with his aerial presence and scoring two goals to send the game to extra time.

Many fouls were committed in this game as 17 players were booked with one of them getting a red card in Denzel Dumfries who was sent off right at the end of extra time.

This game was later known as the Battle of Lusail because of how physical the game was due to the amount of fouls and face offs between players.

Morocco reach the semi finals

Morocco were the surprise package at this World Cup as they became the first African team to reach a World Cup semi final.

They were in a tough group which contained the likes of Belgium and Croatia and they finished above both of them to win the group by drawing with Croatia and beating Belgium.

They would later beat two more high ranking sides in Spain in the last 16 via penalties and Portugal in the Quarter Finals.

Other African teams will have been inspired by what they achieved and will be hoping to repeat this feat at future World Cups.

The final between Argentina and France

The final between Argentina and France was probably the best World Cup final ever as it kept fans on the edge of their seats and was a brilliant and entertaining game to watch.

Argentina were in control and the better team for most of normal time after going 2-0 up through goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria.

But Nicolas Otamendi allowed France back into the game by conceding a penalty in the 81st minute which was scored by Kylian Mbappe and it revitalised the French as Mbappe would score another a minute later to take the game to extra time.

The drama continued in extra time as Messi scored again to put Argentina 3-2 up and on course to win the game, only for them to concede another penalty which was again converted by Mbappe who became the first player to score a hat trick in a World Cup final since Geoff Hurst for England in 1966.

France had the chance to win it right at the end only for Emiliano Martinez to brilliantly deny Randal Kolo Muani and take the game to penalties.

Argentina would later win the game and the World Cup on penalties by scoring all four of their penalties to win their third World Cup.

Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup

It wasn't the most spectacular of moments, but Messi lifting the World Cup had to be my no.1 because it was such a brilliant moment for him.

The World Cup was the trophy he was desperate to win right throughout his career after he already won every trophy available and it was brilliant to see him finally lift that trophy.

The World Cup trophy is the one his career deserved because of the brilliant player he was for so many years and winning it very much cemented him as the footballing GOAT.

He didn't have to be given that gown he wore to lift the trophy, but seeing him finally lift the World Cup was a brilliant moment to see.

MY TOP 10: