Qatar 2022 is almost here, so HITC Football has looked back at who scored the final goal at the last eight World Cups. Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario took the spoils twenty years ago.
No player has scored the final goal over multiple World Cups between 1990 and 2018. Two recent finals have also been decided on penalties, with spot-kicks required to settle the tie in 1994 and 2006. Three showpiece matches were also determined by single-goal margins.
The 2018 World Cup in Russia also saw the losing side, Croatia, score the final goal minutes after Kylian Mbappe fired. The Paris Saint-Germain attacker shone brightly to win the Best Young Player award at just 19 years old and help France clinch their second Fifa title so far.
France had not lifted a crown since claiming a maiden global triumph on home soil in 1998. Didier Deschamps’s team will now start their defence against Australia on November 22 in Group D. Les Bleus will face Denmark on the 26th and Tunisia on the 30th in the first stage.
Should France make it to the final of the Qatar World Cup and Mbappe scores at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, he will be the first player since Brazil legend Vava to score in back-to-back finals. Vava hit home in wins in the final over Czechoslovakia in 1962 and Sweden in 1958.
No player has yet scored the final goal at a World Cup on multiple occasions, and no player likely will after Qatar 2022. Mario Mandzukic had the last goal in Russia four years ago but the 36-year-old retired from international football straight after the 4-2 match in Moscow.
Mario Mandzukic scored the final goal as France won the 2018 World Cup
Mandzukic gave Croatia hope of threatening a comeback against France during the final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. But the striker’s effort would prove to be the final goal that summer as Les Bleus ran out 4-2 victors. Mandzukic had also given France a helping hand.
France moved in front at the Luzhniki Stadium on 18 minutes after Mandzukic turned the ball into his own net. Ivan Perisic would draw Croatia level soon after, but Vatreni handed Les Bleus the advantage again when Antoine Griezmann converted from the penalty spot.
Second-half efforts by Paul Pogba and Mbappe put enough distance between France and Croatia for Mandzukic’s strike to count for little. The 89-cap striker then called time on his Croatia career, before hanging up his boots in 2021 and is now an assistant with Vatreni.
Germany hero Mario Gotze scored the only goal of the 2014 World Cup final
Mario Gotze scored the only goal of the 2014 World Cup final as Germany beat Argentina 1-0 after extra-time. The midfielder sent the ball past Sergio Romero in the 113rd-minute with an outstretched volley. He had only entered the action as an 88th-minute substitute.
The 30-year-old is unlikely to become the first player to score the final goal at a World Cup on multiple occasions in 2022. Gotze has not played for Die Mannschaft in any competition since November 2017. He earned his 63rd cap in a friendly against France that ended 2-2.
Andres Iniesta scored to secure Spain the 2010 World Cup in South Africa
Andres Iniesta scored the only goal of the final in 2010 to secure Spain the World Cup title in South Africa. La Roja lifted their first and only title to date at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg via a 1-0 win after extra-time over the Netherlands with a 116th-minute hit.
Spain boss Vicente del Bosque saw Iniesta reward La Roja for the nation’s dominant brand of tika-taka football. The Barcelona icon drilled a right-footed hit into the back of Maarten Stekelenburg’s goal from Cesc Fabregas’ pass. Fabregas had a huge impact off the bench.
Iniesta is still playing now at 38 years old with Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe. But the 131-cap Spain international has not represented his nation since losing 5-4 to Russia on penalties in the Round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup. He had laid on two assists during the group stage.
Fabio Grosso’s penalty won Italy the 2006 World Cup against France
France took the lead in the 2006 World Cup final after Zinedine Zidane converted from the penalty spot in just the seventh minute. But Les Bleus would not maintain their advantage as Marco Materazzi put Italy level on 19 minutes. His hit would send the tie to extra time.
Yet neither the Azzurri nor Les Bleus could find the go-ahead goal in the additional period. Zidane earning a red card for headbutting Materazzi in the 110th minute did not help his nation’s bid, either. And David Trezeguet missing from the spot gave Italy an advantage.
Trezeguet squandered France’s second spot-kick after Sylvain Wiltord scored between hits from Andrea Pirlo and Materazzi. Eric Abidal and Willy Sagnol made no mistakes for France as Daniele De Rossi and Alessandro Del Piero kept Italy ahead before Fabio Grosso won it.
Ronaldo Nazario hit a double as Brazil won the 2002 edition against Germany
Ronaldo would end the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan with the Golden Ball. He scored eight goals across the tournament, including two in the final as the Selecao won 2-0 over Germany. It returned the South American country’s record fifth and most recent title.
Brazil did not find a breakthrough goal until the 67th minute at the International Stadium in Yokohama. Yet it only took Ronaldo a further 12 minutes to complete his brace and put Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side on course for global glory and his second title after triumphing in 1994.
Emmanuel Petit put the 1998 World Cup final to bed with a goal in the 93rd minute
Emmanuel Petit put the World Cup final to bed in 1998 with a goal in the 93rd minute as France beat Brazil 3-0. Les Bleus romped to their maiden Fifa title on home soil that year, having hosted the 16th edition of the tournament. The final was at the Stade de France.
Zidane had already emerged as France’s hero in the final after scoring in the 27th minute and again in the first minute of first-half stoppage-time. Brazil could not respond to either strike, despite coming close numerous times. Petit would then stroke home the final goal.
Dunga’s penalty won Brazil the 1994 World Cup after Roberto Baggio’s miss
Dunga’s penalty won Brazil the 1994 World Cup after Roberto Baggio failed to beat Claudio Taffarel with the final spot-kick. The Selecao and Italy had played out a goalless stalemate at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California as the tournament closer headed for a shoot-out.
Italy stepped up first in the shoot-out with Franco Baresi, but the iconic defender smashed his hit over the crossbar. Gianluca Pagliuca then saved Marcio Santos’ strike to deny Brazil the opportunity to go in front. Round four would then see Taffarel deny Daniele Massaro.
Dunga scoring for Brazil meant Baggio had to score Italy’s fifth penalty to put the pressure back on the Selecao. But the legendary forward fluffed his lines and clipped the top of the crossbar. Baggio sending his strike sky-high handed Brazil the World Cup crown in the USA.
Andreas Brehme’s penalty determined Italia 90 with the only goal in the final
Andreas Brehme determined Italia 90 with the only goal in the final as Germany won 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico. Argentina had kept the deadlock intact throughout much of the tie in Rome. But Mexican referee Edgardo Codesal awarded Germany a penalty on 85 minutes.
Codesal deemed Roberto Sensini to have fouled Rudi Voller inside the penalty area whilst the forward tried to control possession. Brehme would make no mistake from 12 yards out, rolling a shot into the bottom right-hand corner of Sergio Goycochea’s net for the winner.
Gustavo Dezotti would hinder Argentina’s hopes of forging a late response, too, as Codesal sent the striker off in the 87th minute. The Mexican reached for the red card after Dezotti tussled with Jurgen Kohler near the corner flag, pulling the centre-back down by his neck.
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