With Qatar 2022 fast approaching, HITC Football looks at which players have scored a Goal of the Tournament at a World Cup. Colombia’s James Rodriguez had the top strike in 2014.
FIFA has only recognised the best goal during a World Cup at the last four tournaments. It has also only given one European player the award so far. South American players earned it in 2006, 2010 and 2014. But FIFA.com users named a European as their winner in 2018.
Fans from around the world vote on which player scored the best goal at the quadrennial event. FIFA notes that over three million supporters cast a vote during the last World Cup in Russia four years ago. Fans selected their favourite effort from a collection of 18 goals.
Maxi Rodriguez scored the first Goal of the Tournament at the 2006 World Cup
Maxi Rodriguez became the inaugural winner of the Goal of the Tournament award at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. FIFA gave the Argentinian the title for his attempt in a Round of 16 tie against Mexico. The goal proved to be the winner during extra time in a 2-1 affair.
The midfielder fired a fantastic volley into the far top corner from the outside of the box in the 98th minute. Rodriguez brought Juan Pablo Sorin’s switch down on his chest and let rip with Gonzalo Pineda applying pressure. He had already scored twice during the World Cup.
Rodriguez hit home a brace as Argentina thrashed a Serbia and Montenegro XI 6-0. The 41-year-old also started all four of his appearances and only sat out the final 16 minutes of La Albiceleste’s 6-0 win. But Argentina lost 4-2 on penalties to Germany in the quarter-finals.
Diego Forlan scored the 2010 Goal of the Tournament in the third-place play-off
Diego Forlan enjoyed a prolific World Cup in 2010 and scored the Goal of the Tournament in South Africa. The Uruguayan earned the gong with his strike in the third-place play-off against Germany. But it did not prove to be enough for La Celeste to beat Die Mannschaft.
Forlan’s effort moved him to five goals for the campaign and level for the Golden Boot in a four-way tie. It also put Uruguay 2-1 in front after coming from behind six minutes into the second period. But Marcell Jansen drew Germany level before Sami Khedira headed home.
The 2010 World Cup in South Africa proved to be the best of Forlan’s three tournaments. The 112-cap icon only scored once at the 2002 edition in Japan and South Korea. He later failed to find the net over two games in 2014. Uruguay failed to qualify for Germany 2006.
James Rodriguez’s wonder strike secured Colombia a quarter-final place in 2014
Rodriguez unleashed a wonder strike to secure Colombia a quarter-final place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. His scorching volley against Uruguay broke the deadlock at the Estadio do Maracana. The midfielder later added his second to ensure that Los Cafeteros won 2-0.
Real Madrid would buy Rodriguez from AS Monaco for £71m following his exploits in Brazil that summer. The 31-year-old – now plying his trade at Olympiacos – had six goals and two assists. He hit home in all five of his appearances but lost 2-1 to Brazil in the quarter-final.
Netting six goals proved enough for Rodriguez to win the Golden Boot in 2014, as well. But his goal against Uruguay was the pick of the bunch. Rodriguez found a pocket of space on the edge of the area, chested the ball onto his favoured left foot and riffled a volley home.
Benjamin Pavard let rip as 2018 champions France beat Argentina in the last 16
Benjamin Pavard became the first, and only, European to win the Goal of the Tournament award at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. FIFA.com users voted his goal against Argentina in the Round of 16 to make it 2-2 as their favourite. France went on to win the meeting 4-3.
The full-back flashed a rocket into the back of Franco Armani’s goal with the outside of his boot. Pavard ran onto Lucas Hernandez’s delivery on the edge of the area after it bounced through Argentina’s penalty area. His first-time hit left Armani with no chance of saving it.
Pavard’s shot had exquisite technique to crash into the far top corner with venom. It was his only goal in Russia over six appearances. Didier Deschamps fielded the 46-cap 26-year-old for 90 minutes in all but one of Les Bleus’ fixtures on route to lifting their second title.
Bayern Munich would sign Pavard within six months of him winning the World Cup and the 2018 Goal of the Tournament award. Der FCB paid VfB Stuttgart €35m (£31m) in January 2019 to secure his services from that summer. He is under contract in Bavaria until 2024.
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