Top 20 craziest moments in World Cup history

20. Die a Hero or Live Long Enough to Become the Villain (1998)

19. Inaugural Tournament Chaos (1930)

Take your pick from a multitude of mad events at the inaugural World Cup in 1930, such as Egypt not participating in the tournament because they literally missed the boat, or the United States physio reportedly being knocked out on the pitch by his own chloroform bottle, or the story of a Romanian player’s mother believing he was dead as he did not return home with the team, only for him to turn up alive and well on the day of his funeral.

18. Somebody Stole the World Cup (1966)

Three months before the 1966 World Cup, the tournament’s most important piece of silverware simply vanished.

The actual trophy, at the time named as the Jules Rimet Trophy, was on display at an exhibition in Westminster, London. On the morning of 20 March, someone sneaked into the building, removed a door handle, bypassed a couple of simple locks and walked away with the World Cup.

The theft caused national embarrassment. England was preparing to host the biggest sporting event in the world, only for the trophy itself to disappear months before kick-off. Police launched an investigation, but it was somebody’s pet dog named ‘Pickles’ who discovered the missing trophy. The most prized possession in world football was left inside a package wrapped in newspaper beneath a hedge in south London.

Pickles became an overnight celebrity, appearing in newspapers, television programs and even attending official celebrations after England won the tournament.

17. The Ghost Goal (1966)

Just months after Pickles found the trophy, England made it to the final at home, and faced West Germany. It was level in extra time when Geoff Hurst smashed a shot against the crossbar. The ball bounced down and out. Soviet referee Tofiq Bahramov signaled that it had crossed the line and the goal was awarded.

England went on to win 4-2 and lift their only World Cup. Decades later, fans still debate whether the ball actually crossed the line. Few moments have generated more controversy, particularly given it happened in a World Cup final.

16. The Disgrace of Gijón (1982)

Algeria looked set to reach the second round after defeating West Germany earlier in the tournament. But because final group matches were not played simultaneously, West Germany and Austria knew exactly what needs to be done.

In the final fixture against Austria, West Germany took the lead after 10 minutes through Horst Hrubesch. From that point, both teams largely stopped attacking. The ball was passed around without urgency. Neither side showed much interest in changing the score line.

When crowd realized what was happening, fans booed relentlessly, waved banknotes and mocked both teams. Television commentators criticized the spectacle, with one Austrian commentator urging viewers to switch off their televisions.

The match finished 1-0, eliminating Algeria. FIFA was so embarrassed by the controversy that it introduced simultaneous final group-stage kick-offs, a rule that remains in place till today.

15. Kuwait Prince Stops the Match (1982)

France appeared to have scored their fourth goal against Kuwait during a group-stage match at the 1982 World Cup. Several Kuwaiti players had stopped playing after hearing what they believed was a whistle from the crowd, but the French attack continued and ended in a goal.

The Kuwaitis protested furiously. Then Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, a member of Kuwait’s ruling family and head of the country’s football association, walked onto the pitch from the VIP area and confronted the referee.

After several minutes of argument, the referee made an astonishing decision. The goal was disallowed.

Players, spectators and television audiences were left stunned. FIFA later fined Kuwait, while the referee faced heavy criticism for allowing himself to be influenced.

France still won 4-1, but the incident remains one of the strangest episodes in World Cup history. Why would a goal be overturned? Because a prince walked onto the field and demanded it!?

14. Suarez goal-line handball rescues Uruguay, angers all Africa (2014)

13. Lampard’s Non-Goal (2010)

12. Battle of Nuremburg (2006)

11. France Players go on Strike (2010)

10. Ronaldo left off the World Cup final team sheet

The biggest team-sheet drama of all time. Brazil’s Ronaldo was the best and most famous footballer in the world in 1998. And when he was listed as a substitute for the World Cup final against France, it was mayhem.

Edmundo was up front instead, but a second team sheet later arrived with Ronaldo now included in the XI.

Confusion was rampant. It was later revealed that Ronaldo had experienced convulsions in his hotel room and was clearly not fit to play.

He was “like a zombie” as he shuffled around the field in a 3-0 defeat. But the ‘Il Fenomeno’ enjoyed a wonderful redemption arc four years later, lifting the fifth World Cup trophy for Brazil and winning the Golden Boot.

9. Rijkaard Spits at Voller, Twice

When Netherlands star Frank Rijkaard lobbed a gob of phlegm at the back of West Germany striker Rudi Voller’s curly mullet during a tempestuous last-16 match in 1990, Voller was absolutely incensed.

The players briefly continued a running battle before both being sent off and a clearly overhydrated Rijkaard then did it again as they left the field. Absolutely madness.

8. Maradona’s Failed Drug Test (1994)

It was supposed to be Diego Maradona’s redemption story. Four years earlier, Argentina had lost the final to West Germany, and Maradona arrived in the United States determined to prove he could still dominate football’s biggest stage.

After helping Argentina beat Greece 4-0, Maradona scored a stunning goal and celebrated by sprinting straight towards a television camera, eyes bulging and face contorted.

Following Argentina’s second match against Nigeria, Maradona was selected for a routine doping test. Days later, FIFA announced he had tested positive for ephedrine, a banned stimulant.

One of the greatest players in history, and arguably the biggest star at the World Cup, had been expelled midway through the competition. Maradona insisted the substance came from a nutritional supplement he was taking. FIFA disagreed.

The Argentinians were eliminated by Romania in the last 16, and Maradona never played at a World Cup again.

7. Carry on Playing Even After Two Yellows (2006)

World Cup referees occasionally make mistakes. Few have ever made one quite like this.

During Croatia’s final group-stage match against Australia at the 2006 World Cup, defender Josip Šimunić was booked in the 61st minute by English referee Graham Poll. Late in the game, after a series of fouls and arguments, Poll showed Šimunić a second yellow card in the 90th minute.

The problem was that nothing happened. Šimunić remained on the pitch.

The referee had somehow failed to write down the first booking correctly. He had forgotten that the Croatian defender was already on a yellow card.

Moments after the final whistle, Šimunić again confronted Poll and was shown yet another yellow card; the third booking. Only then did the referee realize his mistake and finally produce the red card.

6. Battle of Santiago (1962)

Things escalated right from kick off at the 1962 World Cup clash between hosts Chile and Italy.

The first foul was awarded after just 12 seconds. Four minutes later, Italian midfielder Giorgio Ferrini became the first player sent off. Refusing to leave the field, he had to be escorted away by armed policemen while play was halted for nearly 10 minutes.

From there, the match spiralled. Players abandoned any pretence of playing football and concentrated on kicking, punching and provoking each other. Chile’s Leonel Sánchez, the son of a professional boxer, broke Italy captain Humberto Maschio’s nose with a left hook and escaped punishment. Later, he punched Mario David, who was then sent off for retaliating.

With Italy reduced to nine men, Chile went on to score twice. But the scoreline was secondary. The match became known as the Battle of Santiago because it was one of the most violent matches football has ever seen.

5. Suarez Lets His Intrusive Thoughts Win – Again (2014)

Google ‘Suarez bites…’ and the fact multiple predictive options/incidents come up tells you a lot about the Uruguayan striker’s appetite.

Giorgio Chiellini, during Italy’s group-stage match against Uruguay in 2014, was not the first opponent to have Suarez’s over-eager teeth sunk into him (specifically on the shoulder – just ask Brainslav Ivanovic), and this one earned Suarez a four-month ban from the sport.

Someone give that guy a muzzle.

4. Patrick Battiston loses his teeth (1982)

Nothing much funny about this one. A contender for one of the greatest World Cup matches of all time (West Germany beat France on penalties to reach the 1982 final after a 3-3 classic) is mostly remembered for German goalkeeper Toni Schumacher’s 60th-minute challenge on French defender Patrick Battiston.

Battiston was through on goal and Schumacher jumped into his body with such force that the Frenchman was knocked unconscious, had teeth knocked out, damaged his vertebrae and later slipped into a coma.

Schumacher didn’t exactly show much remorse at the time, although he later apologised for not having checked on Battiston on the field. And for not going to the hospital afterwards. Oh, and the referee didn’t even give a foul.

3. Brazil’s Biggest Heartbreak (2014)

No game in history has epitomized the Simpsons ‘Stop! He’s already dead!’ meme more than this.

Were Brazil’s players too emotional to cope with the magnitude of the occasion? Or did they always cry during the national anthems?
Either way, unless you were German or a sadist (or both), this was pure watch-through-your-fingers stuff as Brazil conceded four goals in just six first-half minutes to capitulate in the most humiliating manner imaginable. It was an absolutely stunning event to witness in real time.

Still, it’s not like many people were watching (estimated global audience of around one billion). At least Oscar pulled a goal back.

2. Maradona Scores with Hand

Madness that he even attempted it? Madness that the goal was given? Or madness that 6ft England goalkeeper Peter Shilton didn’t beat 5ft 5in Maradona to the ball?

This wasn’t just a World Cup quarter-final but payback for England’s win at that stage of the tournament in 1966 and revenge, as Maradona later wrote in his autobiography, for the Falklands War of four years earlier.

The fine line between madness and genius was perfectly encapsulated when Maradona scored an otherworldly solo goal just four minutes later.

1. Zidane’s headbutt

This one haunts me till this day, and I am not even a France fan.

It ticks all the boxes for the Number 1 spot; shock value, unforeseen violence, one of the greatest footballers of all time, playing in the final match of his career and it’s a World Cup final.

I happened on the opposite half from where the ball was. All of a sudden, the cameras were panning to a fallen Materazzi. Zidane was sent off with a straight red. But why? Why would he, out of the blue, headbutt an Italian defender?

Just in the previous game at the semifinals against Brazil, Zidane had pulled off arguably one of the greatest solo performances in a football match ever.

And he was playing just as good in the final. Oh, what a penalty kick that was!

Apparently Marco Materazzi basically said he’d rather have Zidane’s sister than his shirt and, with Zidane’s sister looking after his unwell mother at the time, the Frenchman saw red and unleashed the most famous headbutt of all time in any sport, perhaps even in history.

“It was only a second, then it was over,” Zidane later said. And what a second it was.

Editor’s Note: This article is inspired by The Athletic’s ranking of historical World Cup moments.