Goalscoring Masterpieces
This superstar striker redeemed his 1998 final heartbreak by scoring both goals in the 2002 final to beat Germany 2-0, winning the Golden Boot with 8 goals.
Who is Ronaldo Nazário
In the dying seconds of extra time (123rd minute) of the 2022 World Cup Final, this Argentine goalkeeper made a legendary spread-eagle save with his left leg to deny Randal Kolo Muani in a one-on-one situation.
Who is Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez?
Despite finishing with two wins and three draws, this Central American team went officially undefeated in 2014, famously topping a "Group of Death" containing Uruguay, Italy, and England.
What is Costa Rica?
When Hirving "Chucky" Lozano scored the winning goal against Germany in 2018, seismographs in this capital city detected a minor artificial earthquake caused by fans jumping in celebration.
What is Mexico City?
This legendary defender set an all-time record by captaining the Mexico national team in 5 consecutive World Cups from 2002 to 2018.
Who is Rafael Márquez?
In 2014, this Colombian playmaker won the FIFA Puskás Award for a stunning chest-and-volley strike against Uruguay, finishing the tournament as top scorer with 6 goals.
Who is James Rodríguez?
After deliberately blocking a goal-bound Ghana header with his hands in the final minute of extra time in 2010, this striker controversially told the press: "The 'Hand of God' now belongs to me. Mine is the real Hand of God."
Who is Luis Suárez?
Led by Agustín Delgado and Carlos Tenorio, this country reached the Round of 16 for the first time in 2006, before being knocked out by a David Beckham free kick.
What is Ecuador?
This eccentric manager promised he would run naked around the iconic Obelisk monument in Buenos Aires if Argentina won the 2010 World Cup.
Who is Diego Maradona?
By starting in the 2022 final, Lionel Messi set the all-time record for the most World Cup match appearances in history with this exact number.
What is 26?
Despite playing with the highly criticized and erratic Jabulani ball in 2010, this Uruguayan master won the Golden Ball and scored 5 spectacular goals.
Who is Diego Forlán?
During Mexico's historic 2-0 group-stage victory over France in 2010, this 22-year-old striker scored the opening goal, emulating his grandfather Tomás Balcázar, who had also scored a World Cup goal against France (in 1954) at the exact same age of 22.
Who is Javier "Chicharito" Hernández?
In 2010, this team reached the quarterfinals for the first time, where they lost 1-0 to Spain in a highly dramatic match that featured two missed penalties within two minutes.
What is Paraguay?
Coming on as a late substitute against Japan in 2014 at age 43 years and 3 days, this Colombian goalkeeper became the oldest player in World Cup history at the time.
Who is Faryd Mondragón?
Scoring all three of his country's goals in 2014 and their first three in 2022, this striker achieved a record-tying six consecutive World Cup goals.
Who is Enner Valencia?
In the 2022 Group Stage, this Brazilian striker scored a physics-defying scissor-kick goal against Serbia, which was voted the Goal of the Tournament.
Who is Richarlison?
In the 2014 quarterfinals, Brazil was rocked when this superstar suffered a fractured L3 lumbar vertebra after a knee to the back from Colombia's Juan Camilo Zúñiga.
Who is Neymar?
Qualifying after a 36-year absence, over 40,000 passionate fans of this nation invaded Russia in 2018, winning the official FIFA Fan Award.
What is Peru?
Tucking her mobile phone between her breasts, this Paraguayan model became a global media sensation in 2010 after promising to run naked through Asunción if her country won or reached the semifinals.
Who is Larissa Riquelme?
In 2002, Brazil won their fifth World Cup by achieving this extremely rare team feat across all 7 of their matches.
What is winning all matches in regulation time (90 minutes)?
During his historic 2022 World Cup triumph, this captain became the first player in modern history to score in the group stage, Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final of a single tournament.
Who is Lionel Messi?
In 2014, Luis Suárez bit Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder, receiving a historic 4-month suspension that marked this many biting bans in his professional career.
What is three?
Led by James Rodríguez, this nation won all three group stage matches and beat Uruguay 2-0 in the Round of 16 to reach their first-ever quarterfinals in 2014.
What is Colombia?
Prior to the 2002 semifinal, Ronaldo Nazário famously shaved his head except for a small front patch in order to distract the media from this specific physical problem.
What is a groin (or leg) injury?
This Mexican goalkeeper became an overnight global sensation in 2014 after making 6 world-class saves to hold tournament favorites Brazil to a 0-0 draw.
Who is Guillermo "Memo" Ochoa?