To whet your appetite for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, I will be redoing my countdown of the Top 25 FIFA World Cup matches of all time in my view. I have included it from USA 1994.

Here below is the thread, I did back in 2022:

25th- Argentina 0-3 Croatia (Russia 2018)

Argentina:

Caballero

Mercado

Otamendi

Tagliaifico

Salvio (Pavon 56')

Perez (Dybala 68')

Mascherano

Acuna

Messi

Meza

Aguero (Higuain 54')

Croatia

Subasic

Vrsaljko

Lovren

Vida

Strinic

Brozovic

Rebic (Kramaric 57')

Modric

Rakitic (Kovacic 82')

Mandzukic (Corluka 90+2')

Goals: Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90+1)

At #25, we have the match that introduced Croatia as contenders for that World Cup. This result came as a surprise for Argentina where much was expected of Messi. The opening goal an error from Caballero. Argentina in Russia 2018 will feature again in this countdown.

It's weird, the Argentina team of 2018 was much stronger than the one of 2022 (plus Messi was closer to his peak) yet they fumbled that tournament massively!

24th- Germany 3-2 Belgium (USA 1994) Second Round

Germany:

Illgner

Berthold

Buchwald

Helmer

Kohler

Hassler

Matthaus (Brehme (46')

Sammer

Wagner

Klinsmann (Kuntz 85')

Voller

Belgium:

Preud'homme

Albert

de Wolf

Grun

Smidts (Boffin 65')

Staelens

Emmers

Scifo

van der Elst

Nilis (Czerniatynski 77')

Weber

Goals:

Voller (6') 1-0

Grun (8') 1-1

Klinsmann (11') 2-1

Voller (40') 3-1

Albert (90' 3-2

At 24 it is this competitive second round match between the reigning champions Germany and Belgium.

23rd- Nigeria 2-3 Argentina (Brazil 2014) Group Stage

Nigeria:

Enyeama

Oshaniwa

Omeruo

Yobo

Ambrose

Mikel

Babatunde (Uchebo 66')

Onazi

Musa

Odemwingie (Nwofor 80')

Emenike

Argentina:

Romero

Rojo

Garay

Fernandez

Zabaleta

Mascherano

Gago

Messi (Alvarez 63')

Di Maria

Higuain (Biglia 90+1')

Aguero (Lavezzi 38')

Goals:

Messi (3') 0-1

Musa (4') 1-1

Messi (45+1') 1-2

Musa (47') 2-2

Rojo (50') 2-3

At 23 it is this final group stage match from 2014 between Nigeria and Argentina. This was the first time in World Cup history that two opposing teams had both scored inside the first five minutes. In 2014, it was not meant to be for Argentina as they lost in the final to Germany 1-0 in extra time. For Nigeria they would lose in the second round to two late goals from France.

22nd- Spain 1-3 France (Germany 2006) Last 16

Spain:

Casillas

Pablo

Puyol

Sergio Ramos

Pernia

Fabregas

Xavi (Senna 72')

Alonso

Villa (Joaquain 54')

Torres

Raul (Luis Garcia 54')

France:

Barthez

Sagnol

Thuram

Gallas

Abidal

Ribery

Zidane

Makelele

Vieira

Malouda (Govou 74')

Henry (Wiltord 88')

Goals:

Villa pen (28') 1-0

Ribery (41') 1-1

Vieira (83') 1-2

Zidane (90' 1-3

At 22 it is this second round match at the 2006 World Cup between Spain and eventual runners-up France. The line-ups of both teams are unreal.

21st- Romania 3-2 Argentina (USA 1994) Last 16:

Romania:

Prunea

Selymes

Beloedici

Prodan

Popescu

Mihali

Lupescu

Munteanu

Petrescu

Hagi (Galca 86')

Dumitrescu (Papura 89')

Argentina:

Islas

Sensini (Medina Bello 63')

Caceres

Ruggeri

Chamot

Simeone

Redondo

Basualdo

Oretga

Batistuta

Balbo

Goals:

Dumitrescu (11') 1-0

Batistuta pen (16') 1-1

Dumitrescu (18') 2-1

Hagi (58') 3-1

Balbo (75') 3-2

At 21, it is this last 16 match from USA 1994 between Romania and Argentina. It was to be Romania who caused a great shock by beating Argentina.

20th- Uruguay 2-3 Netherlands (South Africa 2010) Semi-Final

Uruguay:

Mulsera

Godin

Victorino

Pereira

Caceres

Gargano

Pereira (Abreu 78')

Arevalo Rios

Cavani

Forlan (Fernandez 84')

Netherlands:

Stekelenburg

Hetinga

Mathijsen

Van Bronckhorst

Boulahrouz

Van Bommel

Sneijder

De Zeeuw (Van der Vaart 46')

Kuyt

Van Persie

Robben (Elia 90')

Goals:

Van Bronckhorst (18') 0-1

Forlan (41') 1-1

Sneijder (70') 1-2

Robben (73') 1-3

Pereira (90+2) 2-3

At 20, it is this semi-final classic from South Africa 2010 between Uruguay who had got through to the semi-finals thanks to the 'Hand of Suarez' and Netherlands. It would be the Dutch who would prevail in this semi-final and reach their third World Cup final, alias it wasn't to be for Netherlands as they lost to Spain in the final.

19th- Spain 0-2 Chile (Brazil 2014) Group Stage:

Spain:

Casillas

Azpilcueta

Martinez

Ramos

Alba

Alonso (Koke 45')

Busquets

Pedro

Inieta

Silva

Diego Costa (Torres 64')

Chile:

Bravo

Medel

Silva

Jara

Isla

Diaz

Aranguiz (Gutierrez 64')

Mena

Vidal (Carmona 88')

Sanchez

Vargas (Valdivia 85')

Goals:

Vargas (19') 0-1

Aranguiz (43') 0-2

At #19, it is Chile's shock win which knocked out the reigning champions Spain after two games at Brazil 2014. It was Chile's first competitive victory over Spain in 11 matches, Chile would reach the last 16 and lose to Brazil on penalties.

18th- Brazil 3-2 Denmark (France 1998) Quarter-Final:

Brazil:

Taffarel

Cafu

Aldair

Junior Baiano

Roberto Carlos

Cesar Sampario

Dunga

Rivaldo (Ze Roberto 87')

Leonardo (Emerson 72')

Ronaldo

Bebeto (Denilson 64')

Denmark:

Schmeichel

Rieper

Hogh

Heintze

Helveg (Schjonberg 86')

Colding

Nielsen (Tofting 46')

Michael Laudrup

Jorgensen

Brian Laudrup

Moller (Sand 67')

Goals:

Jorgensen (2') 0-1

Bebeto (11') 1-1

Rivaldo (27') 2-1

Brian Laudrup (50') 2-2

Rivaldo (60') 3-2

On 29/05/2026 at 14:05, Dobbo said:

It's weird, the Argentina team of 2018 was much stronger than the one of 2022 (plus Messi was closer to his peak) yet they fumbled that tournament massively!

Seemed like they had too many experienced players and not a team. Sampailo was the manager too!

On 05/06/2026 at 15:12, Mack. said:

21st- Romania 3-2 Argentina (USA 1994) Last 16:

Romania:

Prunea

Selymes

Beloedici

Prodan

Popescu

Mihali

Lupescu

Munteanu

Petrescu

Hagi (Galca 86')

Dumitrescu (Papura 89')

Argentina:

Islas

Sensini (Medina Bello 63')

Caceres

Ruggeri

Chamot

Simeone

Redondo

Basualdo

Oretga

Batistuta

Balbo

Goals:

Dumitrescu (11') 1-0

Batistuta pen (16') 1-1

Dumitrescu (18') 2-1

Hagi (58') 3-1

Balbo (75') 3-2

At 21, it is this last 16 match from USA 1994 between Romania and Argentina. It was to be Romania who caused a great shock by beating Argentina.

Was Maradona suspended for this game?

3 minutes ago, Steve201 said:

Was Maradona suspended for this game?

Yes, I believe that is when he got sent home from the World Cup after two group games for failing a drugs test.

Ah yes he was off his head after scoring vs Greece

17th- South Korea 2-1 Italy (Japan & South Korea 2002) Last 16

South Korea:

Lee Woon-jae;

Choi Jin-Cheul

Kim Tae-Young (Hwang Sun-Hong 62')

Hong Myung-bo (Cha Doo-Ri 83')

Kim Nam-il (Lee Chun-Soo 68')

Yoo Sang-chul

Lee Young-pyo

Park Ji-sung

Song Chong-gug

Ahn Jung-hwan

Seol Ki-hyeon

Italy:

Buffon

Panucci

Iuliano

Coco

Maldini

Zanetti

Zambrotta (Di Livio 72')

Tommasi

Totti

Del Piero (Gattuso 61')

Vieri

Goals:

Vieri 0-1 (18')

Seol Hi-Hyeon 1-1 (88')

Ahu Hung-Hwan 2-1 (116')

At #17 a possible controversial choice it is South Korea's famous win over Italy in the last 16 where they shocked the world and beat Italy in extra time although some contentious refereeing did play a part in that game. I remember watching highlights of this after school but they missed the crucial moment as I had a power cut. South Korea would go on to reach the semi-finals after beating Spain on penalties in controversial fashion with Spain being denied by two disallowed goals and a corner that wasn't taken in the last minute of extra time. They would then lose to Germany 1-0 in the semi-finals and finish fourth in the World Cup after losing to Turkey 3-2 with the fastest ever goal in World Cup history from Hakan Sukur after 10 seconds. The goalscorer Ahn Jung-hwan after the match had his loan spell at Perugia terminated apparently due to his celebration.

16th- Uruguay 2-3 Germany (South Africa 2010) Third-Place Play-Off]

Uruguay:

Muslera

Lugano

Godin

Fucile

Pereira

Caceres

Perez (Gargano 77')

Areval Rios

Cavani (Abreu 89')

Suarez

Forlan

Germany:

Butt

Jansen (Kroos 81')

Friedrich

Mertesacker

Boateng

Aogo

Khedira

Schweinstieger

Ozil (Tasci (90+1')

Muller

Cacau (Kiessling (73')

Goals:

Muller (18') 0-1

Cavani (28') 1-1

Forlan (51') 1-2

Jansen (56') 2-2

Khedira (82') 2-3

At #16 it is this third-place play-off match after South Africa 2010 between Uruguay and Germany, Earlier in the countdown we saw Uruguay lose out in a thrilling semi-final between Netherlands, it wasn't to be for them again as Germany came back from behind to finish 3rd place at the 2010 World Cup. For Uruguay it was a return for Suarez following that handball against Ghana, that Ghana match wouldn't be in this countdown as I was angered in the circumstances about how Uruguay went through. Although Uruguay were certainly entertaining in the last two matches they played at that year's World Cup.

15th- Argentina 2-2 England (Argentina win 4-3 on penalties) (France 1998) Last 16:

Argentina:

Roa

Vivas

Ayala

Chamot

Zanetti

Almeyda

Simeone (Berti 92')

Veron

Ortega

Batistuta

Lopez

England:

Seaman

Neville

Le Saux (Southgate 71')

Ince

Adams

Campbell

Beckham

Anderton (Batty 98')

Shearer

Owen

Scholes (Merson 79')

Goals:

Batistuta (6' pen) 1-0

Shearer (10' pen) 1-1

Owen (16') 1-2

Zanetti (45+1) 2-2

At #15, although may be lower in the countdown that people would expect it is this last 16 match between Argentina and England in a game which pretty much had everything, a wonder goal from Michael Owen, Beckham's red card against Simeone, disallowed goal from Sol Campbell which would have taken England through in normal time but not meant to be and England losing on penalties again after their exits from major tournaments in a penalty shoot-out in Italy 1990 and Euro 1996. It would fall to David Batty who missed the crucial penalty. Argentina would go on and reach the quarter-finals which may see later in this countdown. For David Beckham he got attacked by the press this before social media with headlines such as "10 Heroic Lions, One Stupid Boy" and I think effigies were burned from him. Four years later it would revenge for Beckham where they met in the group stages by scoring the winning goal from a penalty. One paper even created a dartboard with a picture of David Beckham centred on the bullseye.

For Michael Owen, it was the goal that introduced the world to him.

14th- Brazil 3-2 Netherlands (USA 1994) Quarter-Final

Brazil:

Taffarel

Branco (Cafu 90')

Aldair

Santos

Jorginho

Silva

Dunga

Zinhho

Mazinho (Rai 81')

Romario

Bebeto

Netherlands:

De Giey

Witschge

Koeman

Valckx

Winter

Jonk

Wouters

Rijkaard (de Boer (65')

van Vossen (Roy 54')

Bergkamp

Overmars

Goals:

Romario (52') 1-0

Bebeto (62') 2-0

Bergkamp (64') 2-1

Winter (76') 2-2

Branco (81') 3-2

At #14 it is this 1994 World Cup quarter-final match between Brazil and Netherlands where there was 5 goals in 19 minutes. It would be Brazil who would go on to win the World Cup on penalties.

13th- Bulgaria 2-1 Germany (USA 1994) Quarter-Final

Bulgaria:

Mihaylov

Tsvetanov

Yankov

Ivanov

Hubchev

Kiryakov

Lechkov

Sirakov

Balakov

Kostadinov (Genchev 89')

Stoichkov (Yordanov 76')

Germany:

Ilgner

Helmer

Matthau

Kohler

Wagner (Strunz 59')

Moller

Buchwald

Habler (Brehme 83')

Berthold

Voller

Klinsmann

Goals:

Matthaus (49' pen) 0-1

Stoichkov (76') 1-1

Lechkov (79') 2-1

At #13 it is another match from the 1994 World Cup and it is what was one of the biggest shocks of the World Cup with Bulgaria beating the reigning world champions Germany in the quarter-finals and reach the semi-finals for the first and only time in their history. Bulgaria would narrowly lose 2-1 to Italy in the semi-finals and finish fourth after losing to Sweden in the third-place play-off.

12th- Netherlands 2-1 Argentina (France 1998) Quarter-Finals

Netherlands:

Van der Sar

Numan

de Boer

Stam

Reiziger

Coco

Jonk

Davids

de Boer (Overmars 64')

Kluivert

Bergkamp

Argentina:

Roa

Ayala

Chamot (Balbo 89')

Sansini

Almeyda (Pineda 67')

Simeone

Ortega

Veron

Zanetti

Batisuta

Lopez

Goals:

Kluivert (12') 1-0

Lopez (17') 1-1

Bergkamp (89') 2-1