Best World Cup goals: Seven wonders of the world
Published:Best World Cup goals 2022: Seven from heaven
There were some memorable goals scored at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
From acrobatic efforts to clever set-pieces, there were plenty of fine strikes to get the crowds off their feet.
We select seven of the best from across the tournament.
Salem Al Dawsari – Argentina 1 Saudi Arabia 2, Group C
Al Dawsari’s memorable goal sealed Saudi Arabia’s remarkable comeback win over eventual champions Argentina.
Whatever Hervé Renard said to his players at half-time, it worked!! 🤩@SaudiNT_EN have gone 2-1 up against one of the competition favourites Argentina with this belter!! 🚀#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/uHdXpjUAdm
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 22, 2022
It was an effort Lionel Messi would have been proud of. Argentina seemingly escaped danger as a shot was blocked, but the Al Hilal winger picked up the ball on the edge of the box, jinked past two defenders and curled a strike into the
top-right corner.
The Saudi fans inside Lusail Stadium erupted at a goal that ultimately led to one of the biggest upsets in the history of the finals.
Richarlison – Brazil 2 Serbia 0, Group G
Having turned home a deflection to open the scoring, Tottenham forward Richarlison doubled the lead with a stunning effort.
Richarlison! What have you done?! 🤯#FIFAWorldCup | @richarlison97 pic.twitter.com/kCKFdlINXq
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 24, 2022
Collecting a Vinicius Junior cross, Richarlison controlled the ball and lifted it above him in one motion.
He then twisted his body, executing a fine, acrobatic volley which flew past the outstretched glove of Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in the Serbia goal.
Luis Chavez – Saudi Arabia 1 Mexico 2, Group C
Mexican fans were starting to dream about the knockout stage when El Tri scored twice early in the second half of their final group game against the Saudis.
🤩 STUNNER!
💫 Free kick heroics from Luis Chavez but it wasn't quite enough for Mexico#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/oRtMjmkLlZ
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 30, 2022
Henry Martin broke the deadlock with a close-range finish and five minutes later Chavez lined up a free-kick from 30 yards out.
The Pachuca midfielder’s left-footed bullet found the top corner and was the most powerfully-struck goal of the World Cup group stage which meant the Mexicans just needed one more goal to advance via the fair play rule only for the Saudis to score in stoppage time.
Richarlison – Brazil 4 South Korea 1, last 16
The Spurs man returned with another stunning effort – but this time with an altogether different kind of goal.
"Eye-catching, intricate… typically Brazilian!" 🇧🇷🙌
How good is Richarlison for this Brazil side?! 😲#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/IbJbKku3j2
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 5, 2022
The third goal inside the opening 30 minutes practically assured Brazil’s safe passage into an ultimately ill-fated quarter-final against Croatia.
Richarlison won an aerial duel before juggling the ball three times on his head. More skills, this time with his feet, led to a pass into Marquinhos, who played in Thiago Silva and a through ball into the perfectly timed run of Richarlison allowed him to slot home a memorable team goal.
Wout Weghorst – Netherlands 2 Argentina 2, quarter-final
With the Netherlands 2-0 down, Louis van Gaal turned to his bench and introduced Weghorst – currently on loan at Besiktas from Championship side Burnley.
WELL THEN 😳
Wout Weghorst's second goal sends it to extra-time! 😱#BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup pic.twitter.com/2pVsJhuKQf
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 9, 2022
The 30-year-old halved the deficit with a well-taken header but it was his second goal, deep into stoppage time, that will go down in World Cup folklore.
The Dutch were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box but instead of shooting Teun Koopmeiners played a low pass into the area and Weghorst held off his man to fire home.
Angel Di Maria – Argentina 3 France 3, final
Recalled to the Argentina team for the final, Di Maria made his mark by winning a penalty and then finishing off a lovely team move.
UNREAL team goal 🤤
Argentina are 2-0 up!! That pass to Angel Di Maria 🔥#BBCWorldCup #FifaWorldCup pic.twitter.com/p7HcEgTcnt
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 18, 2022
Alexis Mac Allister found Lionel Messi, who played the ball into the path of Julian Alvarez on the right.
The Manchester City forward then instantly played in Mac Allister behind the France defence and his inch-perfect pass was swept in first time by Di Maria.
Kylian Mbappe – Argentina 3 France 3, final
Mbappe completed a stunning comeback seconds after pulling one back from the penalty spot.
WOW. WOW. WOW.
KYLIAN MBAPPE EQUALISES FOR FRANCE IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL 🇫🇷🏆#ITVFootball | #FifaWorldCup pic.twitter.com/c1dOZhScpx
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 18, 2022
The Paris St Germain forward headed down to Marcus Thuram and then span in behind his marker.
He kept his eye on Thuram’s looped return ball all the way before volleying into the far corner to bring France back level. He would go on to complete a hat-trick but it was not enough for France to retain their title.