• LAST 10 WORLD CUP FINALS: 1982 Italy 3 (Rossi 57', Tardelli 69' Altobelli 81') West Germany 1 (Breitner 83'): Second-half goals from Paolo Rossi, Marco Tardelli - prompting his iconic screaming celebration after scoring in Spain - and Allessandro Altobelli earned the Italians their first World Cup in 44 years and third in total. Getty
    LAST 10 WORLD CUP FINALS: 1982 Italy 3 (Rossi 57', Tardelli 69' Altobelli 81') West Germany 1 (Breitner 83'): Second-half goals from Paolo Rossi, Marco Tardelli - prompting his iconic screaming celebration after scoring in Spain - and Allessandro Altobelli earned the Italians their first World Cup in 44 years and third in total. Getty
  • 1986: Argentina 3 (Brown 23', Valdano 56' Burruchaga 84') West Germany 2 (Rummenigge 74', Voller 81'): Diego Maradona officially ruled the world when he captained Argentina to a second title. It was the little genius's through ball that set-up Jorge Burruchaga's winner after West Germany had pulled the score back to 2-2 in Mexico. AP
    1986: Argentina 3 (Brown 23', Valdano 56' Burruchaga 84') West Germany 2 (Rummenigge 74', Voller 81'): Diego Maradona officially ruled the world when he captained Argentina to a second title. It was the little genius's through ball that set-up Jorge Burruchaga's winner after West Germany had pulled the score back to 2-2 in Mexico. AP
  • 1990: West Germany 1 (Brehme pen 85') Argentina 0: A desperately disappointing final in Italy that was decided by a late Andreas Brehme penalty that earned the Germans victory, denying Diego Maradona and Argentina a second successive title. The South Americans also had two players sent-off - the first ever in a World Cup final. Getty
    1990: West Germany 1 (Brehme pen 85') Argentina 0: A desperately disappointing final in Italy that was decided by a late Andreas Brehme penalty that earned the Germans victory, denying Diego Maradona and Argentina a second successive title. The South Americans also had two players sent-off - the first ever in a World Cup final. Getty
  • 1994: Brazil 0 Italy 0 (Brazil win 3-2 on penalties): Stalemate after 120 minutes in the US, Brazil came out on top in the first World Cup final shoot-out with 'The Divine Ponytail' Roberto Baggio sending his deciding penalty high over the bar to hand the South Americans their fourth title. AFP
    1994: Brazil 0 Italy 0 (Brazil win 3-2 on penalties): Stalemate after 120 minutes in the US, Brazil came out on top in the first World Cup final shoot-out with 'The Divine Ponytail' Roberto Baggio sending his deciding penalty high over the bar to hand the South Americans their fourth title. AFP
  • 1998: Brazil 0 France 3 (Zidane 27', 45+1', Petit 90+3'): France powered to their first title thanks to the brilliance of two-goal hero Zinedine Zidane in front of a delighted home crowd in Paris. It will also be remembered for Brazil star Ronaldo being left out and then restored to the starting line-up just before kick-off after the attacker had suffered a fit in the build-up. PA
    1998: Brazil 0 France 3 (Zidane 27', 45+1', Petit 90+3'): France powered to their first title thanks to the brilliance of two-goal hero Zinedine Zidane in front of a delighted home crowd in Paris. It will also be remembered for Brazil star Ronaldo being left out and then restored to the starting line-up just before kick-off after the attacker had suffered a fit in the build-up. PA
  • 2002: Germany 0 Brazil 2 (Ronaldo 67', 79'): Redemption for Ronaldo after the drama and disappointment of four years previously as the striker scored both goals and earned the man of the match award in Japan. It was Brazil's fifth title. Getty
    2002: Germany 0 Brazil 2 (Ronaldo 67', 79'): Redemption for Ronaldo after the drama and disappointment of four years previously as the striker scored both goals and earned the man of the match award in Japan. It was Brazil's fifth title. Getty
  • 2006: Italy 1 (Materazzi 19') France 1 (Zidane pen 7') Italy win 5-3 on penalties: A match that will forever be remembered for Zinedine Zidane's brutal head-butt to the chest of Italian defender Marco Materazzi in extra-time that saw the French star sent-off. France attacker David Trezeguet was the only player to miss from the spot in Germany. AFP
    2006: Italy 1 (Materazzi 19') France 1 (Zidane pen 7') Italy win 5-3 on penalties: A match that will forever be remembered for Zinedine Zidane's brutal head-butt to the chest of Italian defender Marco Materazzi in extra-time that saw the French star sent-off. France attacker David Trezeguet was the only player to miss from the spot in Germany. AFP
  • 2010: Netherlands 0 Spain 1, after extra time (Iniesta 116'): European champions Spain seal their first world crown thanks to Andres Iniesta's extra-time finish. The match in South Africa saw a record 14 yellow cards handed out - more doubling the previous best set by West Germany and Argentina in 1986. Getty
    2010: Netherlands 0 Spain 1, after extra time (Iniesta 116'): European champions Spain seal their first world crown thanks to Andres Iniesta's extra-time finish. The match in South Africa saw a record 14 yellow cards handed out - more doubling the previous best set by West Germany and Argentina in 1986. Getty
  • 2014: Germany 1 (Gotze 114') Argentina 0, AET: Mario Gotze's extra-time finish in Brazil made it World Cup number four for Germany to deny Lionel Messi a first title with a penalty shoot-out just seven minutes away. Joachim Low's side became the first European team to win the trophy in South America.
    2014: Germany 1 (Gotze 114') Argentina 0, AET: Mario Gotze's extra-time finish in Brazil made it World Cup number four for Germany to deny Lionel Messi a first title with a penalty shoot-out just seven minutes away. Joachim Low's side became the first European team to win the trophy in South America.
  • 2018: France 4 (Mandzukic og 18', Griezmann pen 38', Pogba 59', Mbappe 65') Croatia 2 (Perisic 28', Mandzukic 69'): Kylian Mbappe becomes only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final, after Pele for Brazil in 1958. France's triumph in Russia was their second title after lifting the trophy for the first time in 1998. Reuters
    2018: France 4 (Mandzukic og 18', Griezmann pen 38', Pogba 59', Mbappe 65') Croatia 2 (Perisic 28', Mandzukic 69'): Kylian Mbappe becomes only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final, after Pele for Brazil in 1958. France's triumph in Russia was their second title after lifting the trophy for the first time in 1998. Reuters

World Cup

Mbappe, Zidane, Maradona: The last 10 World Cup finals - in pictures

Ahead of Sunday's clash between France and Argentina, we take a look at the winners and losers from the last 40 years of final battles

Gareth Cox

December 18, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

The first ever World Cup to be held in the Middle East reaches its finale on Sunday when France and Argentina go head-to-head in Doha.

The French are looking to keep their hands on the trophy they won in Russia four years ago and become the first country to achieve that feat since Brazil in 1962.

Didier Deschamps' side finished top of Group D, level on six points with Australia, after beating the Socceroos and Denmark before losing to Tunisia.

In the last 16, Robert Lewandowski and Poland were dispatched 3-1, before France edged past England 2-1 in the quarter-finals. Morocco were then beaten 2-0 in Wednesday's semi-final.

Argentina, meanwhile, are aiming to win the title for the first time since 1986 in what will be Lionel Messi's last World Cup appearance for his country.

Their Qatar campaign started in disastrous fashion after the South American champions fell to a shock defeat against Saudi Arabia. But victories over Mexico and Poland followed and Lionel Scaloni's men finished two points clear at the top of Group C.

Argentina defeated Australia 2-1 in the last 16 and then the Netherlands in a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals. The reigning Copa America champions then powered past Croatia 3-0 in the last four to seal their final spot.

In the gallery above, you can see who came out on top in the previous 10 World Cup finals. To view the next image, just swipe.

Updated: December 18, 2022, 4:59 AM
World CupArgentinaFranceDiego Maradona