Top 10 Best World Cup Teams of All Time
The best ten teams to play in the World Cup. And since the World Cup features only the best teams on the planet, these are, in effect, the top ten soccer teams of all time.
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Brazil 1970
Brazil won the World Cup in Mexico, led by Pelé and coached by Mário Zagallo. The team scored 19 goals across six matches. They defeated Italy 4-1 in the final.
I watched the "aging Pele" score four goals and add five assists. He made Jairzinho a world-class striker with his playmaking. Jairzinho scored seven goals in 1970.
With Gerson in midfield and Carlos Alberto on defense, this was a truly great team. To be fair to Italy, they must have been exhausted after a close extra-time win over a tough West German team that had Gerd Muller on it, but I think that even with extra rest (a week instead of four days), they might not have done much better.
There isn't a close number two. Pele was at the end of his career, but he was still dominant. They easily beat Italy 4-1 in the finals. Jairzinho scored seven goals. They could play any team and wouldn't be beaten once.
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Germany 1990
West Germany won the World Cup in Italy, coached by Franz Beckenbauer. They defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final. Andreas Brehme scored the winning goal via penalty.
They created a dungeon for other teams.
They were great. Beckenbauer was the best coach.
They were the best.
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England 1966
England hosted and won the tournament, beating West Germany 4-2 in the final at Wembley Stadium. Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick in the final. It remains England's only World Cup title.
We had a great team. Bobby Moore was the star, and Alf Ramsey was the greatest manager ever.
Brilliant squad, fantastic supporters. Invented the game. Honest, decent gentlemen.
Only one country has that passion to play perfect football, and that's England.
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Argentina 1986
Argentina claimed the title in Mexico under captain Diego Maradona. Maradona scored five goals and provided five assists. They beat West Germany 3-2 in the final.
Messi is the best we have seen, and I think that Argentina is a very versatile team with a great frontline, midfield, and defense.
Maradona is the best, and he is the best player of the century, no doubt.
They are the best, with Maradona as their captain.
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Italy 1982
Italy won their third title by defeating West Germany 3-1 in the final. Paolo Rossi was the tournament's top scorer. Dino Zoff captained the team at age 40.
Think about some of the greatest soccer teams in World Cup history: Brazil, Germany, and Argentina. Italy 1982 beat them all. They defeated defending champs Argentina, the favorites of the tournament Brazil, and Germany in the final.
Zoff in goal and especially Rossi striking made the difference against tough teams like Brazil (3-2 Italy, with Rossi scoring all 3 goals) and Germany in the final. They might have lost without Rossi scoring and Zoff making great saves.
Italy is the best.
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France 1998
France hosted and won the tournament, defeating Brazil 3-0 in the final. Zinedine Zidane scored twice in the first half. The match was held at Stade de France.
The 1998 French team was the best in soccer history. The team included stars such as Fabien Barthez, Lilian Thuram, Marcel Desailly, Laurent Blanc, Patrick Vieira, Youri Djorkaeff, Thierry Henry, and the great Zinedine Zidane. To this day, their 7.5:1 goals scored to goals allowed average is the greatest of any champion.
They also played beautifully in every game, leaving no question of luck. Finally, they proved their superiority by doubling up with a Euro two years later.
No one could win against France in 1998.
Zidane was in top form.
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Spain 2010
Spain won their first World Cup in South Africa. They beat the Netherlands 1-0 in the final after extra time. Andrés Iniesta scored the decisive goal.
Spain won the World Cup.
Agreed, as a Dutchman.
Best squad ever!
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Uruguay 1930
Uruguay hosted and won the first-ever FIFA World Cup. They defeated Argentina 4-2 in the final. All matches were played in Montevideo.
Having won two consecutive Olympic gold medals and with two-time Copa America MVP Jose Nasazzi leading the team, they would have given any team trouble. They had a variety of strikers and two of the best defenders of all time (including Andrade, another great defender).
A tough nut to crack for even the greatest modern teams, they were a true powerhouse for many years, better than Argentina (1930's World Cup finalist with the great Stabile as a striker). They came back after being down at halftime to win convincingly.
Hector Castro - Uruguay 4 Argentina 2, World Cup final, 1930. The center-forward scored in the last minute in Montevideo to confirm the hosts as the first-ever world champions.
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Uruguay 1950
Uruguay won their second World Cup by defeating Brazil 2-1 at the Maracanã. The match became known as the "Maracanazo." The tournament did not feature a traditional final match structure.
The final four teams were: Brazil (host country and big favorite), Uruguay (who only needed to win one match to access the final round, squashing Bolivia 8-0), Spain (who had left behind England in its group), and Sweden (who earned a pass over the defending world champion, Italy).
Alcides Ghiggia - Brazil 1, Uruguay 2, World Cup final match, 1950. Brazil, the host, was the runaway favorite to win the World Cup for the first time in front of at least 199,000 in the Maracanã, but outside-right Ghiggia scored the key goal ten minutes from time, and Uruguay won the World Cup for the second time. The incident, known ever since as the Maracanazo, gave the stadium legendary status only a month after its inauguration.
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Romania 1994
Romania reached the quarterfinals in the United States. Gheorghe Hagi played a key role throughout the tournament. They were eliminated by Sweden on penalties.
The best Romanian team that ever existed.
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Argentina 2022
Argentina won their third World Cup in Qatar, defeating France on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Lionel Messi scored twice in the final. Emiliano Martínez made a crucial save in the shootout.
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France 2018
France won their second World Cup in Russia. They beat Croatia 4-2 in the final in Moscow. Didier Deschamps became the third person to win as both player and coach.
I think the France 2018 squad should be in the top 20 because they won a World Cup against tougher teams than some ranked higher than them.
Their style of play was smart and great.
They absolutely smashed Croatia in the final. They didn't lose one match and scored wonder goals, such as the Pavard volley.
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Brazil 1982
Brazil were eliminated in the second group stage in Spain. The team featured Zico, Socrates, and Falcão. They lost 3-2 to Italy in a decisive match.
Best team ever, and they were really playing with only 10 men. Football as they played will never be seen again.
This is the best team ever in attack. The Brazilian midfield included Falcão, Sócrates, Junior, Zico, and Éder.
In defense, they had Felipe Santana's dad, Sánchez, and Santana.
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Italy 2006
Italy won their fourth title in Germany by defeating France in a penalty shootout. The final ended 1-1 after extra time. Fabio Cannavaro captained the side.
Only two goals conceded (one own goal, one on a dubious penalty call). So many different goal scorers, they played like a true team and not as individual stars. After the final, the Azzurri had completed 25 consecutive undefeated games.
The Italian 2006 team was really superb. Team lineup and defense were extraordinary, and they played like world champions.
Surrendered only two goals during the entire World Cup. One in the final game and an own goal in group play.
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Hungary 1954
Hungary finished as runners-up after losing 3-2 to West Germany in the final. The team, known as the "Mighty Magyars," was unbeaten for four years prior. Ferenc Puskás was their leading figure.
Greatest team to never win anything. They only lost once in the first half of the 1950s, and that was under very controversial circumstances. They had Ferenc Puskás.
Sándor Kocsis was the ultimate.
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Turkey 2002
Turkey finished third in the World Cup held in South Korea and Japan. They defeated South Korea 3-2 in the third-place match. Hakan Şükür scored the fastest goal in World Cup history.
They played the most entertaining games in the tournament. Gunes was a smart coach.
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Australia 2006
Australia reached the Round of 16 for the first time in Germany. They were eliminated by Italy following a last-minute penalty. The team was coached by Guus Hiddink.
This was a team growing in confidence. Remember that for a time, they pushed Brazil in the group game and perhaps should have gotten a draw there.
They definitely would have beaten Ukraine in the quarters and then from there, who knows? The World Cup, as always, favors the big teams at the expense of those still making their way. The penalty given against them was one of the most disgraceful calls of the tournament!
These guys were awesome (especially Kewell and Cahill). They put Australia back on the map in the world game.
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West Germany 1974
West Germany won the World Cup on home soil. They defeated the Netherlands 2-1 in the final. Franz Beckenbauer captained the team.
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Holland 1974
The Netherlands reached the final, losing 2-1 to West Germany. They introduced "Total Football" under coach Rinus Michels. Johan Cruyff starred throughout the tournament.
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Portugal 2006
Portugal reached the semifinals and finished fourth in Germany. They lost to France 1-0 in the semifinal. Luiz Felipe Scolari was the head coach.
They may not have won the whole thing, but the heart of the team and their determination took them to the third-place game. One of the best.
Should have won. Lost semifinal on a bad penalty call and were outplaying France until then.
Thanks to Ronaldo, Portugal made it to the semi-final.
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Trinidad and Tobago 2006
Trinidad and Tobago made their World Cup debut in Germany. They drew 0-0 with Sweden and lost to England and Paraguay. Dwight Yorke captained the team.
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Portugal 2014
Portugal were eliminated in the group stage in Brazil. They finished behind Germany and the United States in Group G. Cristiano Ronaldo scored one goal in the tournament.
Ronaldo is the best soccer player of all time.
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England 2010
England advanced to the Round of 16 in South Africa. They were defeated 4-1 by Germany in a controversial match featuring a disallowed goal. Fabio Capello was the manager.
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Costa Rica 2014
Costa Rica reached the quarterfinals in Brazil, topping a group with Uruguay, Italy, and England. They lost to the Netherlands on penalties. Keylor Navas was named man of the match three times.
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Brazil 1958
Brazil won their first World Cup in Sweden with a 17-year-old Pelé. They beat the host nation 5-2 in the final. Garrincha was also a key contributor.
This team had the best players, according to Pele.
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Brazil 1962
Brazil retained their title in Chile despite Pelé's early injury. Garrincha led the team with standout performances. They defeated Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the final.
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Brazil 2002
Brazil won their fifth World Cup in South Korea and Japan. Ronaldo scored eight goals, including two in the final against Germany. Luiz Felipe Scolari was the head coach.
Brazil rules.