Winning the FIFA World Cup is the greatest achievement in any sport.
Qatar 2022 represents another chance for the best teams on the planet to join the exclusive winners’ club, with a total of 21 editions of the tournament to date.
The first edition took place in 1930 and was won by the hosts, Uruguay. Thirteen teams participated in that tournament and it has since expanded to 32 teams, with the 2026 edition set to be contested by 48 nations.
For many players, the opportunity to play at the World Cup is seen as the high point of their career, and the tournament has often been the stage for some of the most memorable moments in the game’s history.
Who has won the most World Cups?
Going into Qatar 2022, Brazil is the most successful nation in World Cup history and has won the prestigious trophy five times. Germany and Italy are not far behind, having won the tournament four times.
More: Complete FIFA World Cup schedule 2022
Brazil (5 titles)
- 1958: Pelé, just 17, scored twice in the final against Sweden as Brazil won their first World Cup.
- 1962: Amarildo, Zito, and Vava were on the scoresheet as Brazil beat Czechoslovakia in the final.
- 1970: Pele scores again in the final as Brazil beat Italy 4-1.
- 1994: After the match ended goalless, Brazil beat Italy on penalties in the final, with Roberto Baggio missing the decisive spot-kick.
- 2002: Ronaldo scores twice as Brazil beat Germany in Japan.
😄 Brazil's joy
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 12, 2022
💔 Baggio's heartbreak
The penalty that decided the 1994 #FIFAWorldCup final 🇧🇷🇮🇹
Germany (4 titles)
- 1954: Helmut Rahn scores the winner for West Germany as they beat Hungary 3-2 in the final.
- 1974: Gerd Müller was the hero as West Germany won 2-1 against the Netherlands.
- 1990: West Germany beat Argentina 1-0 thanks to Andy Brehm’s penalty.
- 2014: Mario Gotze scored the winning goal for Germany in the 113th minute of the final against Argentina.
Italy (4 titles)
- 1934: Angelo Schiavio’s goal saw Italy beat Czechoslovakia in extra time.
- 1938: Gino Colaussi and Silvio Piolo both scored braces for Italy in a 4-2 win over Hungary.
- 1982: Italy beat West Germany 3-1 in the final, with goals from Paolo Rossi, Marco Tardelli, and Alessandro Alotbelli.
- 2006: Italy won on penalties, with Fabio Grosso the hero and Zinedine Zidane sent off for France.
Argentina (2 titles)
- 1978: Mario Kempes scored twice for Argentina and Daniel Bertoni also scored in a 3-1 win against the Netherlands.
- 1986: Jorge Buruchaga scored the winner as Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 in a thrilling final.
France (2 titles)
- 1998: Emmanuel Petit scored and Zinedine Zidane scored twice as France beat Brazil 3-0 at home in Paris.
- 2018: Kylian Mbappe was on target in France’s 4-2 success against Croatia in Russia.
That moment when you know the #FIFAWorldCup has your name on it 😍 🇫🇷 #OnThisDay in 2018, @KMbappe did THIS ⚡️ @equipedefrance | @FrenchTeam pic.twitter.com/1ryDnkrG4j
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2022
Uruguay (2 titles)
- 1930: In the inaugural edition of the tournament, Uruguay beat Argentina 4-2 in the final.
- 1950: More than 173,000 people watched the highest-ever football match, with Alcides Ghigia’s goal proving decisive in Uruguay’s 2-1 win over Brazil at the Maracana.
England (1 degree)
- 1966: Geoff Hurst scores a hat-trick as England beat West Germany 4-2.
Spain (1 title)
- 2010: Andres Iniesta scores in the 116th minute as Spain beat the Netherlands.
All-time World Cup winners
See who won each edition of the men’s tournament:
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Third place |
| 1930 | Uruguay | Argentina | United States |
| 1934 | Italy | Czechoslovakia | Germany |
| 1938 | Italy | Hungary | Brazil |
| 1950 | Uruguay | Brazil | Sweden |
| 1954 | West Germany | Hungary | Austria |
| 1958 | Brazil | Sweden | France |
| 1962 | Brazil | Czechoslovakia | Chile |
| 1966 | England | West Germany | Portugal |
| 1970 | Brazil | Italy | West Germany |
| 1974 | West Germany | Netherlands | Poland |
| 1978 | Argentina | Netherlands | Brazil |
| 1982 | Italy | West Germany | Poland |
| 1986 | Argentina | West Germany | France |
| 1990 | West Germany | Argentina | Italy |
| 1994 | Brazil | Italy | Sweden |
| 1998 | France | Brazil | Croatia |
| 2002 | Brazil | Germany | Turkey |
| 2006 | Italy | France | Germany |
| 2010 | Spain | Netherlands | Germany |
| 2014 | Germany | Argentina | Netherlands |
| 2018 | France | Croatia | Belgium |