THE GREATEST PICTURES

Memories of the the earlier tournaments of the World Cup were more about photos than video clips. That is the reason photography once played a most important role in the World Cup. Their are many famous pictures from the World Cup. Some pictures were often used because of their historical significance. Some captures the intruiging actions of soccer. The following are some of the most famous pictures of the past 14 tournaments.

1930 WORLD CUP - URUGUAY

Jules Rimet handing the trophy to Dr. Paul Jude of Uruguay. (ALLSPORT)

A picture you'll always see from any books/videos about the first ever World Cup.

Reason for popularity:
Great historical significance.

1938 WORLD CUP - ITALY

The victorious 1938 Italian team. (PRESSE - SPORTS)

You are lucky if you've seen other pictures from the 1938 World Cup. 99 times out of 100, you'll be given this one.

Reason for popularity:
Picture of 1938 World Cup winning team

1950 WORLD CUP - BRAZIL

Pictured in the England vs. United States game. American player Gaetjaens pulled up and English goalkeeper Williams watched the ball go behind.

The most interesting picture of the World Cup!!!

The 1-0 win by the United States over England was a big upset. For 46 years, this picture has been used to show as the winning goal in the famous victory.

However, as revealed by World Soccer magazine, the ball hit the outside of the netting, not the inside, after going over the bar!

Reason for popularity:
The "goal" which enabled the United States beat England 1-0 in one of the greatest World Cup upsets.

1954 WORLD CUP - SWITZERLAND

Hungarian captain Ferenc Puskas congratulating his counterpart Fritz Walter after Germany's victory in the final.
(POPPERFOTO)

This is the photo most often seen from the 1954 World Cup, showing

This picture has great symbolic value. The Germans will go on to win 2 more World Cups. The Hungarians have never been the same since.

Reasons for popularity:
1) Hungary was without a doubt the greatest team in that era, but ironically lost the match that mattered most.

2) West Germany's first ever world Cup triumph.

3) The greatest upset in the entire World Cup history. (Hungary beat West Germany 8-3 in the first round of the same tournament).

1966 WORLD CUP - ENGLAND

Hurst scoring his third goal that beat West Germany 4-2 in the 1966 World Cup final. (BOB THOMAS)

The last goal of the 1966 World Cup.

This picture is often sited with the famous commentary "They think it's over. It is now!"

Reason for popularity:
The winning goal of 1966 World Cup.

Bobby Moore was hoisted aloft by his teammates while holding the Jules Rimet trophy.

The most famous of all 1966 pictures.
England gave soccer to the world and finally won the Cup herself.
This is perhaps the first ever color image of a team

Reason for popularity:
The only World Cup England has won to date.

1970 WORLD CUP - MEXICO

Pele celebrates his goal against Italy in the 1970 final. (PRESS-SPORTS/EMPICS)

The most often used and, certainly, the most famous picture of Pele.

After heading in the first goal in the final, he leaped into Jairzinho's arms to celebrate what would turn out to be his last goal in the competition.

Reason for popularity:
The last goal of Pele in the World Cup.
Brazil's 100th goal in World Cup.

1986 WORLD CUP - MEXICO

Maradona rose above Shilton to score with his hand in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England. (PETER ROBINSON/EMPICS)

Need any introduction? Maradona's infamous Hand of God. This picture is reproduced even more often than the picture shown below.

And the English fans still spit on this goal even more than a decade after it was scored.

Reasons for popularity:
1) A shameful on-the-pitch incident by one of the world's greatest player.

2) One of the most controversial incident in World Cup history.

Maradona beat England's Butcher and goalkeeper Shilton to score the greatest goal of the World Cup.

You might have seen this amazing goal three thousand times on TV. But this is the picture that shows the moment just before Diego puts the ball into the net.

Whenever people talks about great goals, nobody leaves this one out.

Reason for popularity:
The greatest ever goal scored by Maradona or by any other player in soccer history.

1994 WORLD CUP - USA

Hristo Stoichkov striking a free kick in the quarter-final game between Bulgaria and Germany. The shot would beat the defensive wall and goalkeeper Illgner.

Nobody would give Bulgaria a chance against the world champions. But Stoichkov was at the height of his powers and scored with this amazing free-kick that beat Germany.

The German defensive wall comprised of some world famous names - Matthaus, Klinsmann, Voeller, Buchwald, Helmer, Berthold.

Reason for popularity:
One of the goals that enabled underdogs Bulgaria beat cup-holders Germany. The best free-kick of the 1994 tournament.

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