Top 5 Greatest Football Matches of All Time

Football has delivered some iconic matches between teams both on the domestic and international stage on multiple occasions. Dramatic comebacks, screamers from impossible angles, and heroic performances to drag a team from an improbable situation. 

All these events taking place in a single game are what make the sport an exciting proposition for fans.

While there have been many one-sided contests full of goals for one side, like Germany’s demolishing 7-1 win over Brazil in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. 

A contender for this category will feature games that have immortalized themselves in the annals of history through dramatic comebacks, quality of football, and unforgettable moments on the field.

Here is a list of the top 5 greatest football matches ever, which broke records but also made live football news, which left readers in disbelief: 

5. Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich [UEFA Champions League 1998-99 Final]

A culmination of a record-breaking season for Manchester United and the achievement of an impossible dream against all the odds. Under the stewardship of Sir Alex Ferguson, the Red Devils completed their historic treble of winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League, becoming the first English club to achieve the feat. 

After sealing two out of the three titles, Manchester United entered the Champions League final, facing a winning machine in German giants Bayern Munich, without club captain Roy Keane and influential midfielder Paul Scholes, both suspended following the semifinals against Juventus. 

Following Bayern’s opening goal after just six minutes, the pressure was well and truly on the Scotsman to conjure a special effort from his players. Led by Lothar Matthäus, the Bavarians were ahead in the football game for a big portion of the encounter and seemed victory was inevitable for them, but then came stoppage time and fortunes flipped for the Mancunian Reds. Manchester United finally managed to score in the 90’+1 through Teddy Sheringham to level things up on the night before managing to score another goal from a set piece turned home thanks to Ole Gunnar Solskjær, who scored a goal in the 90’+4 minute to seal history for Ferguson and his Red Devils.

4. Italy 4-3 West Germany [1970 FIFA World Cup Semi-Final]

Dubbed as “The Match of the Century”, the Italy vs West Germany clash from the 1970 FIFA World Cup semifinal was such a classic that a plaque was soon placed on the outside of the Estadio Azteca with that very description. A semifinal encounter that stands by itself, which saw five of the seven total goals scored in extra time, is notable for a game taking place in Mexico’s challenging mid-afternoon conditions at a venue 2,200 meters above sea level.

Italy were handed an early lead by forward Roberto Boninsegna before West Germany equalized in second-half stoppage time through defender Karl-Heinz Schnellinger. The game saw an iconic moment of its own, as German captain Franz Beckenbauer continued playing in the game despite dislocating his shoulder in the second half. 

Beckenbauer had to play on with his arm in a sling after his side’s two substitutions were already used, forcing the Germans to persevere. Many fans in Germany were in dreamland after Gerd Müller had nabbed two trademark poacher’s finishes in extra time; however, the Italians rallied to square the game two times before attacking midfielder Gianni Rivera slotted home a late winner for the Azzurri. It would have been an interesting read for fans, who checked papers for the football match ratings from the game.

3. Milan 3-3 Liverpool (2-3 pens) [2005 UEFA Champions League Final]The Miracle of Istanbul. A game that has been immortalized as one of the best football matches in history, Liverpool’s long and prosperous history, and in the hearts of each Reds fan. Rafa Benítez’s half-time tinkering, with the introduction of Dietmar Hamann, and Steven Gerrard’s heroics to pull his team back from 3-0 down to force extra time are as dramatic and as iconic as games have ever been played. 

Legends were born on the night, especially in the form of Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, whose double save to deny Andriy Shevchenko in the dying moments proved to be the difference. Dudek again showed his calmness and mentality as he denied the Ukrainian once more in the resulting penalty shootout to clinch a spectacular triumph against all odds. One of the darkest nights in Carlo Ancelotti’s trophy-laden career, which has scarred the superstars for eternity, who played the game and continue to struggle for words whenever attempting to explain the calamitous chain of events.

2. Barcelona 6-1 Paris Saint-Germain (6-5 agg) [2017 UEFA Champions League Last 16, Second Leg]

La Remontada, which basically translates to ‘the comeback’, has been etched in the memory of every Barca fan who tuned in to watch one of the most memorable football matches. The game, which pitted Barcelona’s holy trinity of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar against a very capable PSG side, who seemed capable of winning the big one in Europe finally. 

The night saw what was the biggest comeback in UEFA Champions League history. Down 4-0 from a first-leg mauling at Parc des Princes, and despite PSG scoring a crucial away goal at Camp Nou on the hour mark, the Blaugrana somehow scored three goals in the final seven minutes.

Brazilian wizard Neymar’s postage-stamp free-kick late in the game set up a grandstand finish, before Uruguayan sharpshooter Luis Suárez won a controversial penalty, converted swiftly by Messi, before the Argentinian icon set up Barcelona defender Sergi Roberto for the winner with PSG just 30 seconds from victory by away goals.

1. Argentina 3(4)-3(2) France [FIFA World Cup 2022 Final]

A game regarded by many modern football fans as one of the best football matches and probably the most thrilling FIFA World Cup final ever. A game where the world cheered in unison for Argentina to win, because everyone wanted one of football’s greatest ever players, Lionel Messi, to win the one trophy which he had always wanted and one which slipped away from him in 2014 against Germany. 

Despite Argentina holding a two-goal advantage and only 10 minutes away from immortality, only one obstacle in the form of a player willed France to show up, and that was Kylian Mbappe. The young prodigy and the heir to the throne of Messi according to many, scored two quickfire goals to force extra time. In extra time, Argentina again took the lead because of a Messi goal. But soon at the end of extra time, Mbappe converted a penalty, which sent the match to penalties. The resulting penalties saw Argentina triumph on the night of fine margins because of Emiliano Martínez and his goalkeeping wizardry, which helped Messi finally lift the Victory Trophy in a memorable night at Lusail Stadium.