A bit like trying to choose your favourite Beatles song, when picking a Top Ten World Cup Goals list the results could easily alter on a daily basis, if asked. GIVEMESPORT gives the task a spin.  

10. Manuel Negrete (1986)

Paired up in attack with the wonderful Hugo Sánchez, it was easy for Manuel Negrete to blend into the wallpaper of Mexico’s efforts as hosts of the 1986 World Cup.

Yet, against Bulgaria in the second-round he spectacularly emerged from the long shadows with a fantastic bicycle kick in the 34th minute to break the deadlock.

A goal so good they turned it into a statue at the Estadio Azteca, it was just the boost that a frustrated Mexico needed, as they went on to cruise into the quarter-finals, where they sadly lost on penalties to, yes you’ve guessed it, West Germany.  

Video: Negrete's legendary acrobatic goal at 1986 World Cup

9. Saeed Al-Owairan (1994)

Only five minutes had been played between Saudi Arabia and Belgium in Washington, in their final group game at the 1994 World Cup. The prize for a win was second place in the standings behind the Netherlands, and the bonus of avoiding a last-16 encounter with the holders, Germany.

Up stepped Saeed Al-Owairan with the only goal of the game, gaining possession midway inside his own half before setting off on a mazy run that took him past four opponents and into the Belgian penalty area, where he planted the ball high into the billowing net. It was his nation’s finest moment. 

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8. Marco Tardelli (1982)

The event that provoked the World Cup’s most iconic celebration, what tends to go forgotten is that it was a goal of great beauty too, which was further embossed by the wonderful words of a peak of his powers John Motson, from the BBC’s commentary box.

From Paolo Rossi dispossessing the great Paul Breitner, to Gaetano Scirea advancing into the West German half, and Bruno Conti keeping possession, both Rossi and Scirea got involved again, as did a young Giuseppe Bergomi. Before the ball arrived at the left foot of Marco Tardelli, who struck from the edge of the penalty area.  

Tardelli's iconic celebration in 1986 World Cup final.

MADRID, SPAIN - JULY 11: MADRID, SPAIN: Italy player Marco Tardelli (r) celebrates after scoring the second goal in their 3-1 victory over West Germany in the 1982 FIFA World Cup Final at

Santiago Bernabéu on July 11, 1982 in Madrid, Spain.(Photo by Duncan Raban/Allsport/Getty Images)

7. Archie Gemmill (1978)

Outclassed by a wonderful Peru, and embarrassed by Iran, Scotland’s lack of preparation for the 1978 World Cup came at them quickly in Argentina. In their final group game, they were up against the Netherlands, and another hard day at the office was expected for Ally McLeod’s bedraggled team.

However, this is where Scotland finally showed what they were capable of, winning the game 3-2, the best of the goals coming via Archie Gemmill’s iconic slaloming strike that was further immortalised in an unforgettable scene in the hit 1990s movie, Trainspotting.    

Video: Gemmill's iconic solo goal for Scotland at 1978 World Cup

6. Michael Laudrup (1986) 

Denmark were indulging in a hugely impressive period of keep-ball during the early exchanges of the second half of their second group game of the 1986 World Cup, when Michael Laudrup decided to take matters into his own hands.

Leading 2-1 against a ten-man Uruguay, at this point it was still a game on a knife-edge, yet a brisk piece of individual brilliance from Laudrup took him past three defenders and the goalkeeper before he slotted the ball home.

The springboard to a stunning 6-1 victory, while Preben Elkjær would score a hat-trick, it was Laudrup who took the headlines.  

Video: Laudrup blows Uruguay away with stunning solo goal

5. Dennis Bergkamp (1998) 

At the Stade Vélodrome, in Marseille, the 1998 quarter-final between the Netherlands and Argentina was drifting toward an inevitable period of extra time, until Dennis Bergkamp rewrote the script.

A long, searching, and even half-hopeful diagonal ball was launched by Frank De Boer, which cleared every outfield Argentine player, before Bergkamp cushioned it on the inside of his right-foot, taking a second touch to drag it from right to left past Roberto Ayala, and then dispatching it beyond Carlos Roa with the outside of that same right foot.

It took him just three touches of the ball to create an act of genius.  

Bergkamp scores his iconic goal for the Netherlands.

Football - 1998 FIFA World Cup - Quarter Final - Argentina v Holland - Stade Velodrome, Marseille - 4/7/98

Darren Walsh / Action Images

Holland's Dennis Bergkamp scores a spectacular winning goal

4. Éder (1982)

Brazil had surprisingly laboured throughout much of their opening game of the 1982 World Cup, against an organised and defiant Soviet Union, but they saved the magic until the very end.

Paulo Isidoro rolled the ball from the right-hand side of the penalty area toward Roberto Falcão, who coolly allowed it to pass through his legs and into the path of the on-coming Éder, who flicked it up and volleyed it left-footed past a rooted Rinat Dasayev.

It was a goal that set Brazil free, playing a wonderfully expressive, yet ultimately flawed brand of football which made them one of the best teams not to win the World Cup.  

Éder playing for Brazil in 1982.

1982: Eder of Brazil in action during a match. \ Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK /Allsport

3. Esteban Cambiasso (2006)

The complete team-goal, when Argentina went up against Serbia and Montenegro in the 2006 group stages, they ran out 6-0 winners thanks to a magical performance that peaked with their second goal of the day.

Esteban Cambiasso finished the move when planting the ball into the top left-hand corner, the culmination of a 40-second, 24-pass move that was utterly hypnotic.

Blessed with the most outrageous talents, José Pékerman’s side should have gone on to win the tournament, but they were undone in the quarter-finals by the hosts, Germany, predictably on penalties.   

GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY - JUNE 16: Esteban Cambiasso of Argentina (no.5) celebrates scoring the second goal during the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Group C match between Argentina and Serbia & Montenegro at the Stadium Gelsenkirchen on June 16, 2006 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

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2. Diego Maradona (1986)

Diego Maradona’s second goal of Argentina’s 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England, rather than his first, – although there is great hidden beauty in that one too – this was simply mesmeric and the greatest individual goal that the World Cup has ever known.

Just four minutes beyond 'The Hand of God', Maradona picked up the ball in his own half from Héctor Enrique before launching into a 60-yard, ten-second sprint to goal in which he weaved his way past Peter Beardsley, Peter Reid, Terry Butcher twice, and Terry Fenwick, eventually sitting the advancing Peter Shilton down and rolling it into the empty net.

Christened 'The Goal of the Century', it was an act of sheer genius. Argentina went on to win the tournament, defeating West Germany in the final.  

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1. Carlos Alberto (1970)

By the 86th minute of the 1970 World Cup final Brazil were simply toying with Italy.

Picking possession off at will, it took ten passes from seven different players to propel the ball from Tostão, who had tracked back toward left-back from his duties in front of goal, to Carlos Alberto lashing home his team’s fourth goal of the day past a helpless Enrico Albertosi.

While he never touched the ball again after instigating the move, Tostão did play a crucial role in informing Pelé of the approaching Alberto to his right.

Video: Alberto scores the greatest goal in World Cup history

Other supporting roles were played by Brito, Clodoaldo, Gérson, Rivellino, and Jairzinho, Clodoaldo having taken on four Italian players in the middle of the pitch on his own. This was as close to collective perfection that the World Cup has ever seen.  

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