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Goals that have lit up the finals

1986: Diego Maradona, Argentina v England

Arguably the best goal in World Cup history, and it came just four minutes after the most controversial when Diego Maradona punched Argentina's opener over the head of Peter Shilton. Second time around it was much better. Maradona picked up a pass close to the halfway line and dribbled his way around various sets of flailing England limbs, before dummying Shilton, plopping the ball into the net, and racing off to celebrate.

1986: Diego Maradona, Argentina v Belgium

Who said his effort against England was one in a million? As if to prove the point, Maradona did the same again in Argentina's next match, their semi-final against the Belgians. Maradona rode three tackles, this time rounding off the inevitable by juggling the ball to his left foot and shooting coolly past Belgian goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff.

1994: Said Owairan, Saudi Arabia v Belgium

Said Owairan ensured the footballing minnows of Saudi Arabia left with their heads held high and one of the greatest goals of World Cup history in the bag. Only five minutes had elapsed of the Saudi's second group match against Belgium when midfielder Owairan picked up the ball deep inside his own half. Quite why he elected to keep running and running is not clear, but his confidence was not misplaced. He beat four Belgian players before blasting the ball past Michel Preud'homme.

1998: Michael Owen, England v Argentina

Teenage sensation Michael Owen came of age with a World Cup wonder goal. Owen had been unsettling the Argentinians early on in the second-round match, so when he received the ball on the halfway line from David Beckham a buzz of expectation ran through the crowd. The Liverpool youngster surged towards goal, catching the opposition defence flat-footed, and bearing down on his target. Drawn slightly out towards the right, Owen finished his run by smashing home the goal of the 1998 tournament into the far top corner.

1978: Arie Haan, Holland v Italy

Haan had scored from long range in an earlier round against West Germany, but saved his most extravagant effort for the 76th minute of Holland's semi final against Italy. Haan cued up from almost 40 yards and his shot rocketed past stunned Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff to carry the Dutch confidently into their second consecutive final.

1970: Carlos Alberto, Brazil v Italy

Carlos Alberto rounded off a dream Brazilian performance with a mouthwatering strike four minutes from the end in Mexico City. Brazil's front five, including Jairzinho and Pele, had delighted crowds with their sublime skill but Alberto's strike was a reminder they could produce searing power too. Pele played a square pass into the right channel 25 yards from goal and up charged Carlos Alberto from his right-back position where, without breaking his stride, he hammered the ball past Italy goalkeeper Enrico Albertosi.

1978: Archie Gemmill, Scotland v Holland

Scotland had lost to Peru and drawn with Iran, so what chance did they have of winning by the three clear goals they needed to progress against tournament favourites Holland? That they could not quite pull off the impossible almost eclipsed a sterling effort, which they capped with one of the best goals in any finals tournament. Archie Gemmill picked up a loose ball on the right of the Dutch box, drew Wim Jansen, skipped over Rudi Krol's flailing tackle, pushed the ball through Jan Poortvliet's legs and lofted it over advancing goalkeeper Jan Jongbloed. Scotland led 3-1 and, albeit briefly, the impossible was almost within their grasp.

1958: Pele, Brazil v Sweden

Pele was just 17 in 1958 but he wasted little time in putting his outrageous talents on show to the world. The Brazilian team in that competition was as good as any the South American nation has produced before or since, and Pele's goal, which gave them a 3-1 lead in final, was magical. He beat Swedish defender Parlin down the right to chest down Nilton Santos' cross, flipped the ball over Gustavsson with his thigh and volleyed low and clinically past goalkeeper Svensson. Pele fittingly rounded off the 5-2 rout with a close range header in injury-time, but it was his first strike which had stolen the show.

1990: Roberto Baggio, Italy v Czechoslovakia

Young Roberto Baggio was expected to shine on home soil, and first impressions were that the precocious forward had not been affected by the weight of home expectation. The Italians had made a poor start when struggling to get past the United States and goalscoring was becoming a problem. Baggio reminded his team-mates how to do it with an almost arrogant ease. Italy were a goal up against the Czechs thanks to Salvatore Schillaci when Baggio struck 12 minutes from time. He dribbled almost casually past two opposition defenders, cut in from the left flank during his mazy run and shot low past Jan Stejskal in the Czech goal.

1998: Dennis Bergkamp, Holland v Argentina

With the match at 1-1 and seemingly heading for extra-time, Bergkamp struck in clinical fashion in the 89th minute. He caught out the opposing defenders in stealing into the box but much of the credit must go to Ronald de Boer's superb long pass which dropped perfectly towards the Arsenal man. Bergkamp controlled the ball to move effortlessly inside his marker and stabbed the ball into the net to send the Dutch through to the semi-finals in style.