1. 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 three sets of flailing England limbs, before dummying Shilton, plopping the ball into the net, and racing off to celebrate.
2. 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. Once again 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.
3. 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.
4. 1998: MICHAEL OWEN, ENGLAND v ARGENTINA
Teenage sensation Michael Owen came of age with a wonder goal on the biggest stage of all. Owen had been unsettling the Argentinians all through 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.
5. 1978: ARIE HAAN, HOLLAND v ITALY
Haan had scored from long range in an earlier round against West Germany, but saved his most preposterous effort for the 76th minute of Holland's deadlocked semi-final clash with Italy. Haan cued up from somewhere approaching 40 yards and his shot rocketed past stunned Italian keeper Dino Zoff. It carried the orange-shirted playmakers confidently into their second consecutive final but sadly for Haan, all the spectacular goals in the world could not make up for the agony of losing once again. | 
