Tabla de contenidos para World Cup Legends en World Cup Legends

Once every four years, the greatest players and teams from around the globe come together in a celebration of the beautiful game. Packed with colour, excitement, passion and drama, the World Cup has the world glued to their televisions as the biggest names in football dazzle and wow on the ultimate stage. From Pelé and Maradona to Ronaldo and Moore, some of the most iconic names in the history of football are synonymous with the World Cup. In this book you’ll find a host of fascinating features on the aforementioned legends, as well as the Magnificent Magyars of the 1950s and the best side never to win the World Cup – the Cruyff-inspired Dutch team of the 1970s. We also bring you the 50 greatest players to grace the tournament…

Unfortunately, there were no sporting legends from Africa in the World Cup of 1966. Every team in the continent decided to pull out of the qualifiers in protest at the teams which topped the African zone having to play-off against European or Asian opposition for their place in the finals. The feeling was that Africa should be offered a direct route for qualification, and the boycott led to the rules being changed for the 1970 tournament. One consequence of this action was that North Korea took part in the World Cup for the first time in 1966, which caused problems at home: the country wasn’t recognised by the UK, and so it was almost refused entry. Today, six of the 32 finalists are taken from Africa.…

The West Germans played their games at Hillsborough in Sheffield and Villa Park in Birmingham, starting in the best way possible with a 5-0 thumping of Switzerland before a crowd of 36,127. They were then held to a scoreless draw against Argentina but recovered their attacking prowess by putting two past Spain in a 2-1 victory that saw them advance straight to the quarter-finals. Their opponents were Uruguay and while the South Americans had played a frustrating game against England with an eight-man defence, they proved more susceptible to the German onslaught. West Germany fired four goals past them without reply in a thrilling game at Roker Park in Sunderland. Much of that was to do with two Uruguayans being sent off, however. For that ‘crime’, it was the home…

Whenever the conversation about the greatest footballers of all time comes up, it’s only a matter of time before someone mentions Eusébio. His performance in the 1966 World Cup is one example of why. The Portugal striker was already a star coming into the tournament, having won the Ballon d’Or in 1965, and he would continue to show his pedigree while visiting the shores of host nation England. The Black Panther was on characteristically lethal form, netting three goals for Portugal in the group stages to help them to wins over Hungary, Bulgaria and Brazil. In his team’s quarter-final against North Korea, however, he really stepped up to the plate. Portugal looked like they were going to get knocked out of the tournament by underdogs North Korea after going 3-0…

Maradona had started the move with typical flair in midfield before Jorge Valdano miscontrolled his pass, only for Steve Hodge to help the ball on its way towards goal. Maradona did the rest, punching the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton with what Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser believed to be his head. It became an iconic moment. Nasser’s decision to allow Maradona’s punched effort in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal haunted him for the rest of his career. He never refereed at a finals again and his efforts to blame linesman Bogdan Dochev turned into a slanging match, with each accusing the other. Maradona meanwhile, he later revealed, was hissing at his teammates to celebrate, because manager Carlos Bilardo had warned them not to celebrate any goals to save…

Group 4 of the 1978 World Cup went down to the wire. Scotland and Netherlands went up against each other in their final match of the group stage, with Scotland holding onto the hope of qualifying on goal difference. The Netherlands missed Johan Cruyff, but were still a talented team. Nevertheless, their game against Scotland was a close shave for the masters of ‘total football’. Netherlands got the first goal via a penalty, but Scotland drew level before half time. Soon after the break, Scotland were awarded a penalty of their own, which Archie Gemmill dispatched. On 68 minutes, Gemmill would strike again, scoring one of the greatest goals in World Cup history. Gemmill cut in from the right wing and leapt over the challenge of a Dutch defender to…

In one of the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup, England faced West Germany to decide who would go on to play Argentina in the final. During the game, Paul Gascoigne was booked for a foul on Germany’s Thomas Berthold. The young player started to tear up, realising that it was his second yellow of the knockout stage and would mean that he would miss the final, were England to get there. Famously, Gary Lineker noticed that Gazza was on the verge of tears, and was caught by the camera advising manager Bobby Robson to keep an eye on him. As it happened, Gascoigne need not have worried about missing the final; England were eliminated on penalties, and his emotions were let loose as the tears started flowing. Gazza was…

When Zinedine Zidane was sent off in the final of the 2006 World Cup, it was clear that the Italian defender Marco Materazzi had said something to him. Quite what, however, was the subject of speculation that was only properly cleared up a year later when Materazzi revealed the actual words. It appears Zidane had reacted to having his shirt pulled by Materazzi and told him: “If you want my shirt I will give it to you afterwards.” Materazzi revealed to the magazine TV Sorrisi e Canzoni that he then replied to the French star: “I prefer the whore that is your sister.” This caused Zidane to retaliate. But does Zidane regret it? Maybe. He admitted to the French sports television programme Téléfoot in 2017 that he was ashamed of…

As almost every team in Europe’s top leagues practises a form of Total Football, it's clear why it is considered the world’s most successful philosophy. Tiki-taka, an evolution of Total Football, underpinned the two pre-eminent sides of the modern era – Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona and the Spanish team that won three major tournaments between 2008 and 2012. It is no exaggeration to argue that Johan Cruyff, who played for Barcelona between 1973 and 1978, and then managed the side from 1988 until 1996, introduced many of the methods that helped it transform into the world’s biggest club. By 1990, Barça had won ten league titles and no European Cups in its history. Since then, it has collected 14 league titles and all five of its European Cups. Much of that…

The end of the Magnificent Magyars was precipitated by political events at home. Budapest Honvéd, for whom most of the national team played, were in Spain playing in the European Cup when revolution erupted in Hungary in 1956. The team brought their families out of Hungary and went on a money-raising world tour rather than returning home. Eventually, some went back, but several key players refused. Kocsis and Czibor, for example, went to play for Barcelona, where both had successful careers. Hungary’s star player, Ferenc Puskás, also went to Spain, where he played for Real Madrid for eight seasons, scoring 156 goals in 180 La Liga games. He won La Liga five times in a row between 1961 and 1965, the Spanish Cup once and three European Cups. With their…

For a man who has scored more goals at a World Cup than all bar one man – his 15 is only beaten by Miroslav Klose’s tally of 16 – the 2006 World Cup in Germany was in some ways a bizarre way for Ronaldo to bow out. Although he was only just approaching 30, the twilight of his career was clearly upon him. The knee injuries from which he had remarkably recovered in 2002 would not go away, and neither would his ever-expanding waistline. In their final group game, Ronaldo showed flashes of his old self, with a no-look pass that nearly set up the opener, a headed equaliser and a booming finish from the edge of the box to seal a 4-1 win over Japan. Against Ghana in…

In the summer of 1974, West Germany manager Helmut Schön – the man who had led the team in two previous World Cup campaigns – was clearly at his wit's end. Before him in the heavily guarded training camp in rural Malente was a bunch of players bored out of their minds, fed up with constant supervision, and in open dispute over the bonus payments they should receive if they won the World Cup. It was that latter point that upset Schön the most. He believed playing for West Germany was an honour, and he was so angry that he even threatened to replace the lot of them with a bunch of reserves. Luckily for the team's star names, it didn't come to that and West Germany went on to…

Part of the World Cup’s enduring appeal is its colourful – if at times controversial – history. From Benito Mussolini’s intervention as Italy’s unofficial kit man in 1938 to the influence of Argentina’s ruling military junta on the 1978 tournament, it’s clear to see that this showcase event of the world’s favourite game has been viewed as a PR event for some. However, the tournament’s most shameful moments aren’t reserved for politicians. Within the space of a decade the World Cup has also been the arena in which we have seen mortals like Diego Maradona and Zinedine Zidane rise to god-like status only to be brought back to Earth with a thud. With eternal glory up for grabs it’s surprising that we don’t see more players, coaches and administrators behaving…

There’s normally a lot of goodwill towards World Cup hosts early on, enough so that most neutrals want to see them win in the tournament’s opening match to get the good vibes flowing. Germany’s exciting opener against Costa Rica in 2006 did just that, kicking the tournament off in style. Only six minutes into the game, Germany captain Philipp Lahm picked the ball up wide on the left side of the pitch. He cut inside into the edge of the box, putting him on his favoured right foot, then unleashed a thunderous shot towards the far side of the goal. The ball hit flush in the top corner, clattering off the inside of the post and sending the stadium wild. It was the perfect start to the World Cup: a…

As a player at Barcelona, Cruyff won La Liga, the Ballon d’Or and was the Golden Ball winner of 1974. But it is as a coach that the Spaniards of the 21st century came to know his name so prominently. “Nothing in football would be possible without the arrival and the unequalled charisma and talent of Johan Cruyff,” Pep Guardiola has said. When Cruyff took over as Barcelona boss, already a league winner there as a player, they had finished sixth in the league the year before and won La Liga just once in 15 years. It is a testament to his success that he left eight years later having championed Spain four times and Europe once. But equally, his revolution was not an instant or an obvious one. “I’m…

Brazil weren’t in an ideal state coming into their semi-final match against Germany in the 2014 World Cup. Their star player, Neymar, had been injured in the previous game against Colombia and captain Thiago Silva was suspended. Still, Brazil were going into the match undefeated and were playing on home soil. It was expected to be a close game. What followed was a humiliation dubbed the Mineirazo, a reference to Brazil’s shock defeat in the 1950 World Cup final, also played on home soil, known as the Maracanazo. Brazil were a mess and were comfortably dismantled by a German team, who would go on to win the tournament. Müller struck first, converting from a corner after he was allowed to go unmarked in the box. Then, in an incredible six…

One of the most exciting things about the World Cup is seeing some of the globe’s very best footballers strut their stuff on the biggest stage of all. It’s a joy to watch footballers in their prime perform to the best of their ability, and while the most skilful teams don’t always win, talent generally finds a way to shine. To that end, we have players with sublime skill, and others who are so solid in defence that almost nothing will get past them. If anything, it’s a disappointment that we didn’t get to see all of the greats: had George Best, Alfredo Di Stéfano, George Weah and Ryan Giggs played in the tournament, for instance, they would certainly have made the list. But that’s not to say our top…

Pelé is credited as a pioneer in helping to grow football in the US. He originally retired from club football after the 1974 season, though he would continue to make the odd appearance for Santos. In 1975, Pelé officially came out of retirement to join the New York Cosmos. This was not Pelé at his peak, but he was still enough of a star to bring a lot of public interest to the young North American Soccer League, the precursor to Major League Soccer. The club’s increased profile led them to move from a sparse pitch that the club’s groundsman spray-painted green to hide the lack of grass for Pelé’s debut on TV in the Yankee Stadium. By Pelé’s final season in 1977, the Cosmos averaged crowds of around 40,000,…

Although England achieved success in 1966, they actually managed to lose the World Cup – in the most literal sense. The trophy was stolen on the afternoon of 20 March 1966 from the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster where it had been put on display. It led to a nationwide hunt and much embarrassment for the FA but it also heralded another sporting legend: Pickles, a black-and-white collie, who sniffed out the Jules Rimet Trophy seven days later wrapped in a newspaper in a hedge in London. “It was all over the news because there was this mystery element to it”, recalls screenwriter Michael Chaplin, who based the TV drama, Pickles: The Dog Who Won the World Cup, on the story in 2006. “It was almost like a classic Ealing…

For more than 50 years, England’s third goal in the final has proved controversial, with doubt cast over whether the ball crossed the line after it hit the crossbar and bounced down. While the goal stood following consultation between the referee and the linesman, the Germans have always believed it should have been ruled out. In 2010, it appeared scorer Sir Geoff Hurst himself thought the same. He told a press conference to promote sponsorship of the Football Conference, “I have to admit that the ball didn’t cross the line”. But it later emerged it was an April Fool’s joke, much to everyone’s relief. Thankfully, in 2016 Sky Sports used the EA Sports Performance system to prove once and for all that it did cross the line. Or maybe not.…

The 1970 World Cup was host to one of the competition’s finest games, a match between the World Cup holders at the time, England, and arguably the greatest World Cup side ever fielded, the 1970 Brazil team. The game’s close also provided us with one of the World Cup’s most iconic images, when Brazil legend Pelé swapped shirts with England captain Bobby Moore. The match itself was closely fought, Gordon Banks’ most famous save denying Pelé a goal when he flicked his header up over the bar, and England squandering several good chances. One of the key features of the game was the battle between the incredible attacking talent of Brazil – the likes of Jairzinho, Rivelino, Gerson and Pelé – and England’s defence, led by Bobby Moore. The former…

It does not always ring true that the best players make the best managers. In fact, it often seems to be the opposite. Certainly, Maradona’s lifestyle did not appear to be a natural fit with the job. His most prominent spell as a manger came from 2008 to 2010, when he took over the national side in Argentina – despite having not worked as a manager since that ill-fated mid-’90s spell. Unsurprisingly, it would prove a turbulent time. His fourth game in charge saw Argentina equal their record defeat, a 6-1 loss to Bolivia that left them staring down the barrel of failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. But he rallied a side bursting with attacking talent – Sergio Agüero, Lionel Messi and Juan Román Riquelme were joint…

Coaching an international football team is rather different to managing a club side. For starters, those at the helm are unable to plug any gaps in their squad by splashing the cash. There is also far less time to iron out problems on the training pitch or in regular fixtures. Indeed, with international management, there is a greater reliance on organisation and trust. It’s important to manage egos and plan for the long term while bearing in mind that any disappointments can linger for months between matches. At the same time, coaches have the weight of expectation of their entire country on their shoulders. No wonder such jobs are widely seen as the toughest in football. Yet, if carried out with success, they can lead to great prestige. Winning the…

It may surprise England fans to hear that the Germans do not consider them rivals. Aside from the fact that they almost always beat England when it matters, for them, the most important feud is with their neighbours, the Netherlands. That rivalry has led to some explosive encounters over the years, including an infamous incident at the 1990 World Cup during the first round of the knockout stage. It all started when the Netherlands’ Frank Rijkaard was booked for a foul on Germany’s Rudi Völler. Rijkaard felt that Völler had deliberately left a leg dangling to win himself the foul and he wasn’t pleased, to say the least. Depending on your point of view, Rijkaard may or may not have had a point, but regardless, that did not excuse what…

Roberto Baggio was expected to light up the 1994 World Cup held in the USA. The creative playmaker started slow, but found his form in the knockout rounds. He scored both of Italy’s goals in the first knockout round to give his ten-man team a win over Nigeria. In the quarter-finals against Spain, he grabbed a match winner, then scored two more classy goals in the semi-final against Bulgaria in a 2-1 win. Then came the final against Brazil. The game ended in a 0-0 draw and went to penalties. Italy’s final spot kick fell to Baggio. Surely Italy’s star player, the man that had led them to the final, this set-piece specialist, wouldn’t miss? Yet, he did, blazing the ball over the bar in Pasadena’s Rose Bowl to hand…

After leaving Bayern Munich in 1977 – the year he retired from international football – Beckenbauer went on to play for the New York Cosmos. He then returned to compete in the Bundesliga with Hamburger SV (for whom he won the title) and had one last spell in the Big Apple before hanging up his football boots. But of all his roles in the wake of that 1974 World Cup, the one that sticks in everyone's mind is that of manager of the West Germany team. He was handed the managerial reins of his country in 1984, and his impact was certainly swift. He took West Germany to the 1986 World Cup final, losing only to an Argentina side packing the skills of Diego Maradona. He then went straight to…

Luis Suárez is a controversial player. Few deny his talents and the fans of the teams he plays for tend to love him, but his numerous misdemeanours have made him an unpopular figure in the wider football world. There has been biting, diving and alleged racial abuse, but the incident for which he is arguably most famous is his hand ball in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal contested by Uruguay and Ghana. A hard-fought 1-1 draw meant the two teams had to go into extra time. Deep into the additional period, Ghana’s Adiyiah sent a header towards goal that had beaten the keeper. Suárez saved it on the line, blatantly using his hands to prevent a certain goal, and the referee showed him red. The incident probably would have been…

Every story has a beginning, and the story of the world’s greatest sporting spectacle begins in 1930. That is the year in which the first World Cup was held in Uruguay, chosen as the hosts to coincide with the nation’s celebration of the centenary of its first constitution. The final was contested by Uruguay and Argentina in the Estadio Centenario, constructed especially for the tournament. Uruguay struck first, scoring in the 12th minute, but Argentina fought back and went into the break leading 2-1. In the second half, Uruguay took control again, scoring three goals and running out 4-2 winners. They became the first team to lift the famous Jules Rimet trophy, and etched their name in football history. The next day was declared a national holiday to celebrate the…

What Alf Ramsey lacked in pace and height, he more than made up for with an uncanny knack for ensuring he was in the right part of the pitch at the right time. He made his professional debut on 26 October 1946 in a second division game for Southampton against Plymouth Argyle and proved himself to be an intelligent right-back. But after 96 appearances for the club, scoring eight goals, he left for Tottenham Hotspur and won the first division in 1951. When his playing days were over, Ramsey went on to manage Ipswich Town in the Third Division (South) in 1955, leading them to promotion as champions. He won the first division with the club in 1961-62, an incredible success that led to him managing England. After winning the…

In the aftermath of the Maracanazo defeat it was Brazil’s three black players – Moacir Barbosa and defenders Bigode and Juvenal – who took the majority of the flak. Despite being considered one of the world’s greatest goalkeepers, Barbosa was made to suffer more than anyone else. Roundly blamed by fans and journalists for an error that allowed Alcides Ghiggia to score Uruguay’s winner, he would play only once again for his country. When the Maracanã installed new goalposts in the 1960s the old wooden ones were given to Barbosa. His decision to burn them did little to exorcise his demons; his reputation as Brazil’s bogey man haunted him for the rest of his life. Barbosa once recalled that in 1970, the year in which the country won its third…

Prior to the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin, Zinedine Zidane was awarded the prestigious Golden Ball, which is handed out to the best player of the tournament. The then-34 year old had topped a poll of journalists covering the World Cup that summer and, having taken their pick from a list of players collated by the FIFA technical committee, the media gave Zidane 2,012 points – a tally which just edged him ahead of Fabio Cannavaro of Italy, who received 1,977 points. It was way more than the 715 points given to Andrea Pirlo, also of Italy. What is most likely to have swung it for Zidane – who was not only lacklustre in the opening two group matches, but sent off in the final – were his blistering…

Going into the 1998 World Cup, England’s great hope was star player and set-piece specialist David Beckham. Strangely, however, Beckham was left out of England’s first two qualifying games by manager Glenn Hoddle, who accused him of not being focused. His decision caused an outcry back home, particularly after the team lost 2-1 to Romania. Those clamouring for Beckham to start got their wish in a crucial group decider against Colombia, in which he scored one of his trademark free kicks in a 2-0 win. They were through to the knockout rounds. Up next was a tough challenge against a highly rated Argentina. The game was a thriller, including penalties scored by both teams and a famous wonder goal by a young Michael Owen. The moment it’s most remembered for,…