The Best World Cup Memories we Can’t Get Out of Our Heads

World Cup memories are among the most profound for those old enough to remember. The FIFA World Cup is always fascinating, whether it's a fantastic goal, an equally remarkable celebration, a stroke of brilliance, or a ridiculous event. Since its debut, FIFA has been the go-to football game for millions of sports and video game fans. Here are 10 FIFA hits and misses that became the talk of the town—one might be your favorite.

Maradona’s Goal that Shocked the World

The "hand of God" refers to a goal Diego Maradona of Argentina scored against England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Association football rules say that Maradona's handball made the goal illegal, but because the refs didn't see everything, Argentina got a one-goal lead. So, how did Maradona do it? He got the ball in his grasp, dribbled past every defender, and put the ball past Peter Shilton, who was confused. What a smart move!

Banking on an Eventual Win

Gordon Banks made a save against Pelé when England played eventual champion Brazil in the group stage of the 1970 World Cup. The English goalie just moved to the near post, but instead of jumping forward to meet the bouncing ball, he dove back to his right. Banks didn't block the shot because Pele and Rivelino were in the area. Instead, he used his fingertip to move the ball and send it well over the crossbar. Pele was stunned since he believed he'd scored and was preparing to celebrate. We remember Banks because of how he responded before and after the save and how much he enjoyed it.

The Tackle that Sent Battiston to the Hospital

The 1982 World Cup semi-final between West Germany and France was a classic as it included the worst World Cup tackle. Michel Platini handed Patrick Battiston the ball with Les Blues tied at one. Well, Harald Schumacher saved a shot by Battiston. The Frenchman fell after Schumacher's body check, and the ball rolled agonizingly near the goal as Battiston lay unconscious. Interestingly, the referee witnessed no foul play.

Tardelli Celebrated in the Most Inspiring Way

Anyone who needs an example of how football can make one feel should explore this one. Italian player Marco Tardelli scored a goal in the World Cup final versus West Germany and celebrated uniquely. As he raced back to the bench, he was overcome with emotion and began to shout and cry out his gratitude to the heavens for his victory. By the end of the match, the Germans were out of luck as Italy defeated them 3-1 to win the World Cup.

An Amazing Goal Courtesy of Gemmill

Though they had Archie Gemmill, who scored one of the greatest goals in World Cup history, Scotland was eliminated in the first round for the second time in three tournaments. Gemmill dribbled past three defenders and slid the ball into the net with an unbelievable finish to make it 3-1 against the Dutch and their style of “total football.” The Scots were eliminated from the tournament for the second time in many games when the Dutch brought the score to 3-2. Ultimately, Holland lost to Argentina in the finals.

Kuwait’s Walk Out Against France

France was up 3-1 against Kuwait when, in one of the strangest moments in history, they scored another goal while the Kuwaiti defense stood still, thinking they had heard a whistle. Prince Fahid, head of the Kuwaiti Football Association, ordered his team to leave the field in outrage, but the referee made a silly call, and the game went on. France triumphed 4-1 in the end.

Gazza’s Waterworks Display in 1990

England's Paul Gascoigne breaking down in tears during the semi-final against West Germany is one of the most iconic scenes from the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Gazza, realizing that he would miss the final if England advanced, cried uncontrollably after receiving a red card. It didn't matter, though, because West Germany won the penalty shoot-out again.

Higuita’s Iconic Wiggle Dance

Back in the day, Rene Higuita was doing what he does best but squeezed in some of his outfielder skills, trying to make his way around Roger Milla of Team Cameroon. At that moment, the veteran striker was fresh out of his retirement just so he could compete again. Good thing he did since he scored a goal and celebrated by giving a wiggle dance!

Salenko’s Performance of a Lifetime

Outside of Russia, few people knew of striker Oleg Salenko, so not many anticipated him to score five goals in a single game. Salenko scored these goals in the decisive 6-1 victory over the 1990 World Cup's biggest surprise, Cameroon. While Salenko and Hristo Stoichkov of Bulgaria tied for the tournament's Golden Boot title for most goals scored, Russia was eliminated in the first round despite the victory.

A Beautiful Game to Remember

Almost all pro coaches consider this one the best example of how players should score a goal, and here’s why. At this point in the game, the Brazilians were playing rough against their Italian opponents. They fashioned out a beautiful team goal, with excellent contributions from Pelé and Jairzhino and a spectacular finish from Carlos Alberto. The goal put Brazil ahead in the 4-1 scoreline and proved to be the decisive factor in their victory in the World Cup. Virtually everyone agrees that Brazil's World Cup-winning team featured the most outstanding players in the tournament's history.

So, there you have it! Some might think we missed out on other notable mentions, but these went down in history as the most iconic. Indeed, the World Cup is a beautiful opportunity for soccer fans worldwide to bond over their shared passion, especially when their favorite players are in the spotlight for something good or bad.