Last update 7 June, 2026 by football hung
Elegir las mejores finales de los Mundiales es abrir una conversación infinita. Hay finales que se recuerdan por el fútbol, otras por el drama, otras por una figura que lo cambia todo y algunas porque condensan el espíritu completo de una época. No siempre gana la final más perfecta; muchas veces gana la que deja una imagen imposible de borrar.
Esta selección busca justo eso: partidos que fueron mucho más que el último encuentro de una Copa Mundial de la FIFA. Para ordenar este ranking pesan la emoción, el contexto, la calidad del juego, the historical relevance and the mark they left on the football imagination. If you want a broader look at complete tournaments, here is our review of the best World Cups in history.
| Position | Final | Result | Why is it historical? |
| 1 | Argentina – France 2022 | 3-3, Argentina 4-2 on penalties | The wildest modern finale: Messi, Mbappé, comebacks and round. |
| 2 | Brazil – Italia 1970 | 4-1 | Pelé's Brazil, Jairzinho, Gershon, Tostao, Rivelino and Carlos Alberto in their fullness. |
| 3 | Argentina – Federal Germany 1986 | 3-2 | Maradona, Burruchaga and Azteca in a final with comeback and immediate response. |
| 4 | Federal Germany – Hungary 1954 | 3-2 | The miracle of Bern changed the history of Germany and broke the logic of the tournament. |
| 5 | Spain – Netherlands 2010 | 1-0 | Iniesta's night and the first World Cup in Spain. |
1. Argentina – France 2022: the total final
Argentina and France played in Lusail in a final that seemed written by someone without fear of excess. Argentina dominated, France resurrected with Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi once again put the albiceleste ahead and Mbappé forced the shootout with another penalty in extra time. He 3-3 and the 4-2 Argentina on penalties left a final that already belongs to the first shelf in history.
own FIFA He presented it as an Argentine consecration on penalties after a historic final. For Messi it was the culmination of a career that was already among the greatest, something that connects directly with the debate about the best Argentine players in history. For Mbappé it was an almost impossible performance: 3 goals in a final and still defeat.
2. Brazil – Italia 1970: beauty turned champion
Brazil 4-1 Italy was not just a victory. It was the coronation of a team that is still used as an aesthetic measure of football. Pelé paved the way, Gérson sent, Jairzinho scored in every match of the tournament and Carlos Alberto closed the final with one of the most famous team goals in history.
The final of Mexico 1970 explains why that Brazil is still alive in any review of the best players in the history of Brazil. The Aztec, besides, became the largest stage of World Cup memory, an idea that FIFA recovers when remembering its iconic images of 1970 y 1986.
3. Argentina – Federal Germany 1986: Maradona and the last blow
Argentina reached the final in Mexico 1986 promoted by Diego Armando Maradona, but West Germany did not give up even 2-0 against. Rummenigge and Voller tied the game in the final minutes and forced Argentina to show that they also knew how to respond when the script broke.
Then the play that closed the story appeared: Maradona's pass and Jorge Burruchaga's definition for the 3-2. FIFA remembers that final within the iconography of the Azteca Stadium, with Maradona lifting the trophy in front of a packed stadium. It was not the final with the most control, but it is one of those that best explains the narrative power of a World Cup.
4. Federal Germany – Hungary 1954: the miracle of bern
Hungary was the great team of the time. They had beaten West Germany in the group stage and reached the final with Ferenc Puskás as the symbol of a team that seemed invincible. Logic said Hungary. Football chose something else.
West Germany came back and won 3-2 a final that changed the sporting self-esteem of a country and became a founding myth. The miracle of Bern was not just a surprise; It was one of those finals that explain how a World Cup can alter the emotional map of football.
5. Spain – Netherlands 2010: the goal that changed a story
Spain 1-0 Netherlands was not a wide score final, but a final of maximum tension. The game was tough, fear of losing, an eternal save from Casillas to Robben and a goal from Andrés Iniesta in extra time that forever changed Spain's place in world football.
The Johannesburg final also explains why South Africa 2010 It is among the most special tournaments on our list of the best World Cups. It was the night a game idea found its ultimate prize.
6. Italia – France 2006: Zidane, Materazzi and destiny from the 11 metros
The Berlin final had everything: Penalty from Zidane to Panenka, empate de Materazzi, header, expulsion and a round that crowned Italy. Fabio Grosso scored the decisive penalty and France was trapped between greatness and injury.
UEFA remembers that final as an Italian victory after a dramatic penalty shootout. Its strength is not only in the result, but in the image of Zidane walking towards the locker room next to the trophy. It is one of the hardest and most famous scenes in modern football.
7. England – Federal Germany 1966: Wembley and the ghost goal
England won 4-2 in extra time and won his only World Cup. The final was marked by Geoff Hurst's shot that hit the crossbar and bounced over the line. Goal conceded, debate eterno y un hat-trick que convirtió a Hurst en una figura singular de la historia mundialista.
Pocas finales han mezclado tanto orgullo nacional, polémica y memoria televisiva. Wembley 1966 sigue apareciendo cada vez que se habla de tecnología, justicia arbitral y goles fantasma.
8. Brazil – Italia 1994: la primera final decidida por penaltis
USA 1994 terminó con Brasil campeón tras el 0-0 ante Italia y una tanda que dejó a Roberto Baggio mirando al cielo después de mandar fuera el lanzamiento decisivo. Fue la primera final mundialista resuelta desde el punto de penalti y cambió la relación entre las finales y el drama psicológico.
La escena de Baggio es tan poderosa que también aparece en cualquier lista de momentos inolvidables de los Mundiales, aunque aquí no hubiera gol. Sometimes history is written precisely with what does not fit.
9. Germany – Argentina 2014: Gotze and the edge of extra time
Germany and Argentina played a close final at Maracaná, tactical and full of details. Higuaín had a huge opportunity, Messi touched the goal and the match was decided with a very high quality action: control and volley by Mario Gotze in extra time.
It wasn't the most explosive final, but it is one of the most tense of the 21st century. Germany thus closed a cycle of growth that had begun years before and Argentina was one step away from giving Messi the title that would end up coming in 2022.
10. Argentina – Netherlands 1978: Kempes and a final under pressure
Argentina won 3-1 in extra time with Mario Kempes as a great figure. The end of 1978 It has a complex historical context, pero también una dimensión futbolística indiscutible: un Monumental encendido, una selección local empujada por su gente y una Países Bajos que volvió a quedarse a las puertas de la gloria.
Kempes marcó dos goles y se convirtió en símbolo de una noche que todavía genera debate. Hay finales que se recuerdan por su belleza; esta se recuerda por su intensidad y por todo lo que la rodeaba.
La final que no fue final: Uruguay – Brazil 1950
El Maracanazo merece mención aparte porque técnicamente no fue una final eliminatoria. The World Cup 1950 se decidió en una liguilla final y a Brasil le bastaba el empate ante Uruguay. Ganó Uruguay 2-1 y el silencio de Maracaná se convirtió en una de las imágenes más poderosas de la historia del deporte.
Por impacto emocional, Uruguay – Brazil 1950 compite con cualquier final. Por formato, queda fuera del ranking puro. Pero ningún artículo sobre finales mundialistas estaría completo sin recordar esa excepción gigantesca.
Sources consulted
Sources: FIFA, Argentina-France 2022; FIFA, imágenes icónicas del Estadio Azteca; FIFA+, end of 1970; FIFA, campeones del mundo 1982-2022; UEFA, final Italia-Francia 2006.
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