The key here is, not best. Not worst. Most operatic. Larger than life. To me, the leading candidates, in order, are 1. The headbutt. Frankly, that's just classic, to my mind the most operatic sports moment in history (without thinking about it too hard, mind you.) 2. I'm stretching the definition of moment, but Germany's demolition of Brazil from the 2nd through the 5th goals. 3. Baggio's miss in 1994, because of who he was in Italian soccer. Thoughts?
I'm probably off base with this topic but I'll give it a try. Maradona's sudden departure from USA '94 for failing a drug test. Perhaps not surprising in hindsight but it was big news when it broke. He appeared resurrected after his '91 drug suspension and was so influential in Argentina's first two matches it made one wonder how the team would cope without him. Not very well, as it turned out.
I have a few more to add. 1) The death of Andrea Escobar. After I heard it on the news, I was very depressed about it throughout the day. 2) Ronaldo before the WC Final in 1998. There are many conspiracy theory about it.
I was thinking about both of these actually. But in some ways those moments were magnified before or after the games and not on the field as much. But I think I am leaning toward saying they do count.
If we are gong to stretch the definition to fit that one, Holland scoring all those goals against the Defending champs should be mentioned as well. Including one of the best headers I have ever seen scored in any official match.
Maradona, Escobar, and Ronaldo are all great nominees. Better than my nomination of Baggio's miss. The Spaniards have a point. The Italians do not. IMO.
Speaking of Italians I think we are forgetting an obvious one here. Some Uruguayan guy got very hungry in Brazil.
Paolo Rossi's third goal against Brazil. At 1-0 most people probably figured Brazil would eventually score and dominate. At 2-1 I think some doubts began to creep in the minds of those supporting Brazil but there was still 3/4 of the match still to play. When Falcao finally leveled the score with just over 20 minutes to play I'm sure many felt it was over. Italy was forced to go forward and Brazil would surely punish them. But when Rossi knocked in that third goal, it was like a punch to the jaw: "You have got to be kidding!" EDIT: Whoops! You're looking for 1990-present.
Higuita's screw-up sending Cameroon to the QFs in 1990. Neymar's broken back in 2014 While up a man, Seamen letting in that long floating goal against Brazil in 2002. Argentina's free kick goal against England in 98, and the Beckham red in the same game. Everything about France in 2010. At the time, Gazza's yellow in the semi in 1990 meaning that he would miss the next game. Ruiz's goal for CR against Italy in 2014, especially having come just after being cheated out of a stone cold penalty.
...... ho hum...... oooh, nice...... looking good...... Olé!...... Olé!...... whoa...... Whoa!...... WHOA!...... HOLY CRAP, BRILLIANT!
Beckham's Freekick came against Colombia. That Becks's Red Card incident against Cholo Simeone was operatic.
From 2014: Robin van Persie's diving header against Spain, David Luiz crying after the game against Germany, Luis Suarez biting Giorgio Chiellini 2002: Beckham's penalty redemption against Argentina, the refs screwing Italy and especially Spain 2010: Landon Donovan's goal against Algeria, Ghana missing that penalty against Uruguay after Luis Suarez' handball, Carlos Tevez' offside goal, Frank Lampard's ghost goal
??? Would it have been better to lose the game?!?!?!?! I'll just say it...I would not want a guy on my team who wouldn't do the exact same thing in the exact same situation (understanding that "last minute of a tied, knockout match" is an exceedingly rare situation.)
gonna agree with you here. the rules may be should change to prevent it from happening, but he cunningly knew the situation did a quick calculation ran through all the permutations and made a decision. took his punishment according to the rules. you want to win the game? score your PK. do that and we would not have any further discussion. **this coming from a guy who genuinely dislikes the sonofabitch!
Ridiculous. You sound as this was a regular action - it was not. A 100% sure goal was denied to a ~60% chance to score and it was treated with the hardest punishment a ref could do. It's like a murder that is treated with death penalty is after all nothing you can mourne about because you know the guy was sentenced. Flawed logic. Think about how many scenes we would have in this sport if all people woulkd think this way and how this would finally destroy the sport. If you want to win a game use actions that are actually allowed or just don't even try. This really was one of the biggest wtf moments in the history of the World Cup.
I agree with you. There has to be a focus on integrity, sportsmanship and doing the right thing. The game would be extremely ugly and cowardly if late in matches everyone started to lift of their hands to keep a ball from going into the net.