Soccer
World Cup stories: The eight greatest goals scored at the World Cup
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The World Cup is the stage where heroes are made, and legacies are cemented, and over the years, it's been the setting for some of the game's greatest-ever goals.
Since its inception in 1930, over 2,500 goals have been scored across the tournaments, with some truly iconic strikes among them, so how do you whittle them down to just eight?
Well, DAZN News has just done that by making its pick of the greatest World Cup goals of all time.
So, it's apologies to David Platt, Roberto Baggio, Manuel Negrete and even Pelé, who just didn't quite make the cut, but here are the famous moments that did.
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8
Benjamin Pavard, France vs. Argentina 2014
What the kids might call a volley with 'swazz' and a technique rarely seen in football, which makes this one of the delightful goals to watch in World Cup history.
Ball dropped to the defender just outside the box as Argentina tried to clear their lines, and Pavard hit a sliced volley into the opposite corner of the net that stunned the stadium.
The sort of goal even Lionel Messi, who looked on in awe, hadn't even added to his collection.
7
Carlos Alberto, Brazil vs. Italy 1970
The quintessential World Cup goal that's been played over and over again through the years, as it's the perfect example of the Brazil team of its era, in all its swagger.
This move began from the back, as the Brazilian's moved the ball up the pitch in a series of bamboozling passes, before the ball was lined-up for full-back Alberto.
There were seven players involved in the goal before the defender arrowed the ball into the bottom corner. Masterful.
6
Michael Owen, England vs. Argentina 1998
Teenage Michael Owen showed no fear as he competed in his first-ever World Cup and made a name for himself with this goal in the epic clash with Argentina.
Picking up David Beckham's pass just in his own half, the striker motored towards goals with the speed and control that became a hallmark of his early career.
Having manoeuvred past the South American defence, Owen then lifted the ball into the back of the net, and an England legend was born.
5
Maxi Rodriguez, Argentina vs Mexico 2006
Locked into extra time against Mexico, Maxi Rodriguez made a name for himself on the world stage with this belter at the 2006 finals.
As the ball was floated over from the left flank, there didn't seem to be too much danger when Rodriguez collected the ball on the edge of the box.
However, the touch on the chest was followed by a rasping left-foot volley that went straight into the back of the net.
4
Saeed Al-Owairan, Saudi Arabia vs Belgium 1994
The most famous moment in the history of Saudi Arabian football came at the last World Cup on American soil, with this piece of individual magic.
Al-Owairan picked up the ball in his own half and then danced round pretty much the whole of the Belgian team before slotting the ball past Michel Preud'homme.
It made the Saudi player a household name in his homeland as he etched his name into World Cup folklore.
3
James Rodríguez, Colombia vs Uruguay 2014
2014 was very much James Rodriguez's World Cup, with the Colombian taking home the Golden Boot after a breakout tournament, with this goal the highlight of his run.
The forward was 25 yards out from goal when he took a looping headed pass on the chest, before swivelling and hitting the ball with a volley of venom.
The ball blasted its way into the top corner and put Rodriguez's career on a whole new pathway after the tournament.
2
Dennis Bergkamp, Netherlands vs Argentina 1998
A man who knows all about scoring great goals, he saved one of his very best for the biggest stage and this quarter-final with Argentina.
Frank de Boer lofted a ball from his left-back position all the way to Bergkamp, who was waiting in the opposite penalty area.
The Dutch legend then cushioned the long pass perfectly in one movement, then took it round Robert Ayla in the next, before opening up his foot and caressing the ball into the net. Only Dennis Bergkamp.
1
Diego Maradona, Argentina vs. England 1986
It had to be, didn't it? While England fans might grimace given Maradona's other antics during this classic game, there's no denying this as the greatest-ever World Cup goal.
The Argentine icon picked up the ball in the centre of the pitch and then, through a series of sublime skills and quick feet, skipped through the England defence before slipping the ball past Peter Shilton.
Voted Goal of the Century, there was nothing the Three Lions could do to stop one of the best at what was the peak of his powers.
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