One response captured the shock of seeing a legend lose control on the global stage:
For such a legendary player to do that on the world's biggest stage is something that will never be forgotten.
Here are the World Cup moments fans said they will never forget:
- The only answer is the 2022 final in Qatar, Argentina vs. France, when Messi scores three goals while Mbappé scores four. Argentina wins on penalties, but FIFA had to change the rules for future games because of the Argentine goalkeeper's poor sportsmanship during the shootout. Wild.
- Zinedine Zidane's headbutt in 2006 was an absolutely surreal moment. For such a legendary player to do that on the world's biggest stage is something that will never be forgotten.
- When I watched my first World Cup in 2010, South Africa's Siphiwe Tshabalala scored THAT goal and the commentator said "Tshabalala!!!" and they started dancing.
- 2002 World Cup, when the USA beat Mexico in the knockout rounds! I was in Cancún celebrating my high school graduation, watching the game at Señor Frogs, and I almost got my ass kicked celebrating!
- Italy 1990. It was Ireland's first time in the World Cup. I was 12 years old. The atmosphere and excitement all across the country were like nothing I've seen since. Flags and bunting decorated every house, and every single person owned and wore at least one Ireland jersey or T-shirt. Our World Cup song 'Put 'Em Under Pressure' could be heard everywhere. People would take time off work just to watch the games. And then Ireland beat Romania on penalties to reach the quarterfinals. It was chaos. Ireland came to a standstill. We had a big street party where I lived. 'Put 'Em Under Pressure' was played on repeat. Not one person in Ireland who experienced that day will ever forget it. We sadly lost our next match, and the success of that World Cup has never been equaled since. But even now, when I hear the haunting opening bars of 'Put 'Em Under Pressure', I still get goosebumps and tear up a little. Olé Olé Olé 🇮🇪.
- Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal in 1986. He scored the goal in the quarterfinal game against England.
- THAT haircut in 2002 (Brazil's Ronaldo).
- World Cup 2014. Traveled to Cancún for my son's wedding. All the different people/cultures/nationalities at the resort watching the matches in the bar were amazing. Cheering! Drinking! Celebrating! What an amazing event!
- 2014, US vs. Belgium. Tim Howard saved 15 shots in regulation. That was the day I became an Everton Fan.
- Italy's glorious win in the 2006 World Cup! My favorite team all along, and they did a fantastic job!
- I arrived in Paris the morning after the 1998 World Cup final. This was way before smartphones, and since I had been on a train all night, I had no idea which team had become champions. Let's just say it became clear quite quickly after I got off the train.
- Honestly, Croatia's entire run in the 1998 tournament. Who doesn't love an underdog, but to see a newly independent country rise to third?! Inconceivable.
- I was at the 1994 World Cup in Los Angeles at the Rose Bowl for the USA vs. Colombia. Team USA wins because of an own goal by Colombia, and I remember celebrating like a wild 10-year-old in the stadium.
- Clint Dempsey's goal in the opening seconds of the 2014 World Cup.
- Costa Rica, 2014, watching Keylor Navas save that penalty shot from Greece. Legendary. That afternoon, someone altered the exit sign for the suburb of Pavas to say Navas instead, and it stayed up for weeks.
- All the moments during the 7-1 match between Brazil and Germany. Watching this with my crowd in Germany was something special. Felt unreal.
- Going into primary school in 2002 and getting to watch the World Cup games instead of class because that World Cup was in Asia, so they would kick off in the mornings in England.
