Every World Cup ends with a final, but not every final is remembered equally. Some are cagey, tactical affairs decided by a single goal; others are wild, swinging epics that define eras. Ranking the greatest finals is a subjective exercise, but a few matches appear on almost every list, because they combined drama, quality, and historical significance in a way that transcended the result. Here are the finals that stand above the rest.

The 2022 final between Argentina and France in Qatar is the strongest candidate for the greatest final ever played. Argentina led 2-0, France scored twice in two minutes through Kylian Mbappe to force extra time, Messi restored Argentina's lead, Mbappe completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot, and Argentina finally won the shootout. It was the first final to feature two hat-tricks in the sense of Messi and Mbappe both scoring decisive goals at every stage, and it settled the debate about Messi's place among the all-time greats. For pure drama across 120 minutes and a shootout, no final matches it.

The 1954 final, the Miracle of Bern, remains the most historically significant upset in World Cup history. Hungary, unbeaten for four years and winners of their group match against West Germany 8-3, were overwhelming favourites. West Germany, a nation still rebuilding after the Second World War, won 3-2 after coming back from two goals down. The victory became a founding myth of post-war West Germany, and the match is still taught in German schools. The 1970 final, in which Brazil beat Italy 4-1 in Mexico City, is the connoisseur's choice: Pele's opening goal, Jairzinho's strike, and Carlos Alberto's famous final goal, a sweeping team move finished with a thunderous shot, are among the most replayed goals in football history.

Other finals earn their place for different reasons. The 1966 final at Wembley, England's 4-2 extra-time win over West Germany, gave England their only title and produced Geoff Hurst's hat-trick, still the only one in a men's World Cup final before Mbappe's in 2022, plus the most debated goal in history, the one that may or may not have crossed the line. The 1986 final, Argentina's 3-2 win over West Germany in Mexico City, was Maradona's crowning achievement as captain. The 2014 final, Germany's 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina in Rio, was decided by Mario Gotze's superb volley and is remembered for its tension and quality rather than its goals.

Ranking finals is ultimately about what you value: drama, quality, or significance. On drama, 2022 wins. On quality, 1970 wins. On significance, 1954 wins. The beauty of the debate is that every generation gets to add its own final to the list, and the expanded 2026 tournament, with its new format and record crowds, may yet produce a final that joins them. That is why the World Cup final remains the biggest single match in sport: it is not just a game, it is a moment that a whole generation remembers where they were when it happened.

Beyond the top tier of finals, several others deserve mention for their own reasons. The 1998 final, France's 3-0 win over Brazil in Paris, is remembered for Zinedine Zidane's two headers and for the mystery surrounding Ronaldo's fitness before kick-off, after the Brazilian striker suffered a convulsive fit hours before the match. The 2002 final, Brazil's 2-0 win over Germany in Yokohama, was Ronaldo's redemption, with both goals scored by a player who had been written off after his 1998 ordeal. The 1990 final, West Germany's 1-0 win over Argentina in Rome, is often ranked among the worst finals for its cynicism and lack of spectacle, yet it still produced a dramatic late penalty and a sending-off. These finals remind us that greatness is not only about goals and drama: sometimes it is about context, redemption, or controversy, and every final adds a chapter to the tournament's story, whether it is remembered fondly or not.