Chasing Immortality: Ranking the Greatest World Cup Finals Ahead of 2026

The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially on, with North America preparing to host the biggest and most expansive tournament in football history. But as we look forward to the summer of 2026, it is only natural to look back at the spectacles that brought us here. What exactly makes a World Cup final unforgettable? Is it the tactical masterclass, the underdog story, or the sheer individual brilliance of a player etching their name into eternity? In a brilliant piece of football nostalgia, BBC Sport recently undertook the monumental task of ranking the greatest World Cup finals of all time. Their retrospective journey touches on the matches that transcended the sport and became global cultural touchstones. Unsurprisingly, the conversation begins in the rarefied air of 1970. Pele’s Brazil lifting the Jules Rimet trophy at the majestic Estadio Azteca remains the gold standard for many football purists. It was the tournament where the 'beautiful game' truly blossomed, culminating in a breathtaking 4-1 demolition of Italy. Pele's iconic leap and header remain frozen in time, a moment of pure sporting poetry that cemented his status as the undisputed king of football. Fast forward more than half a century later, and Lionel Messi finally captured his elusive crown in Qatar 2022. As highlighted by BBC Sport, Argentina’s chaotic, jaw-dropping victory over France on penalties is a strong contender for the greatest final ever played. It had everything a football fan could possibly dream of: a generational superstar cementing his legacy, a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick, and enough narrative twists to last a lifetime. Of course, no historical ranking of World Cup finals would be complete without invoking 1966. England’s 4-2 triumph over West Germany on home soil at Wembley remains the ultimate fairy tale for the Three Lions, forever immortalized by Geoff Hurst’s controversial yet legendary hat-trick. As we gear up for 2026—where matches will once again be played beneath the soaring altitude of the Azteca in Mexico City—the pressure is on for the next generation of footballing superstars. Can a new hero emerge to rival the legacies of Pele and Messi? The grand stages across the United States, Canada, and Mexico are perfectly set for history to be written. Until the opening kickoff, the debates over the greatest final of all time will continue to rage on among fans.