On Thursday, the spotlight turns to the United States, Canada, and Mexico as the three nations kick off the FIFA World Cup, which will captivate football fans around the globe over the next month.
South Africa and Mexico will get the tournament underway on opening day in what is expected to be the biggest World Cup in history, with nearly 50 teams competing for football’s biggest prize.
As the countdown to the tournament continues, BolaNews looks back at five memorable moments from the last five FIFA World Cups.
Zidane’s dramatic farewell (2006)
The 2006 World Cup final between France and Italy produced one of the tournament’s most unforgettable moments when France captain Zinedine Zidane was sent off for headbutting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in extra time.
Italy went on to win the title on penalties, while Zidane’s illustrious career ended in agony.
The World Comes to Africa.
In 2010, South Africa, the first World Cup hosted on African soil saw Spain claim their maiden global title.
Andrés Iniesta etched his name into football history by scoring the winning goal in extra time against the Netherlands in the final, securing a 1-0 victory.
Germany’s 7-1 demolition of Brazil (2014)
Hosts Brazil suffered one of the darkest nights in their football history when Germany thrashed them 7-1 in the semi-finals. Germany raced to a 5-0 lead within the opening 29 minutes before completing a result that stunned the football world.
Croatia’s fairytale journey (2018).
Croatia captured the imagination of football fans by reaching their first-ever World Cup final. Inspired by captain Luka Modrić, the Croatians overcame a series of grueling knockout matches before eventually losing 4-2 to France in the final.
Messi completes his legacy (2022).
Lionel Messi finally lifted the World Cup trophy after inspiring Argentina to victory in one of the greatest finals ever played. Argentina defeated France on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw, with Messi producing a performance that cemented his place among football’s all-time greats.
With another World Cup set to begin, fans will be hoping for more unforgettable moments to add to the tournament’s rich history.
READ ALSO : World Cup : Chivuta and Mweetwa picks Portugal, Spain as favorites for the global title.
