Top 10 World Cup Games

Mexico wasn’t even supposed to host the 1986 World Cup. But an earthquake in Colombia meant that Mexico stepped in at late notice and delivered a feast of football. Though best remembered for Argentina’s triumph, the tournament offered much to admire throughout, including this classic from the second round. The Soviet Union had undergone something of a reboot, thanks to coach Valeri Lobanovsky, who modeled the national team on the club side he had made one of Europe’s most successful, Dinamo Kiev — seven of its players, including star man Igor Belanov, played in the 1982 Soviet World Cup team. But not even Belanov’s hat-trick on the day was enough to overcome a spirited Belgium outfit, who kept drawing level to take the game to extra time at 2-2. A fine time to take the lead then, which they duly did through Stephane De Mol. The classy Nico Claesen volleyed his team further ahead and, despite Belanov both winning and converting a penalty kick, the Belgians held on. Belanov had the dubious distinction of becoming only the third player in World Cup history, after Ernest Wilimowski of Poland in 1938 and Josef Huegi of Switzerland in 1954, to score a hat-trick and finish up on the losing side. Belgium would reach the semi-finals before being knocked out by Diego Maradona’s all-conquering Argentina.

See pictures of Russia celebrating Victory Day.