The FIFA World Cup has produced some of football’s most unforgettable moments, from dramatic finals and penalty shootouts to nations celebrating their first-ever titles… and let’s not talk about the current allegations of favouritism!
Also see: Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo suffers World Cup heartbreak as Portugal crashes out
Since the tournament began in 1930, only a select group of countries have had the honour of becoming world champions. Football giants such as Brazil, Germany, Italy and Argentina have dominated the competition, while nations like Spain and England have created their own historic milestones.
For fans looking back at football’s biggest tournament, the FIFA World Cup winners list tells the story of changing generations, legendary teams and unforgettable matches.
Argentina vs Spain: Who will be the next FIFA World Cup winner?
With the final taking place on Sunday, 19 July 2026, at MetLife Stadium in the United States, it could be anyone’s game, thanks to each side’s amazing talents. While Argentina boasts Lionel Messi (39), no stranger to a World Cup victory, Spain has up-and-coming star Lamine Yamal (19), considered one of the best soccer players in the world.
This won’t be Messi and Yamal’s first encounter. The two athletes met when Messi was 20 and Yamal five months old. The teen’s parents, Mounir Nasraoui (born in Morocco) and Sheila Ebana (from Equatorial Guinea), entered a raffle by Catalan-run newspaper Sport in conjunction with Unicef, the Barcelona team’s shirt sponsor, the BBC explains.
Among the winners was Yamal, who happened to get paired with Messi.
Yes, those photos you’ve seen are real.
More than 18 years ago, a baby named Lamine Yamal and his mom Sheila met Lionel Messi at a UNICEF fundraising photoshoot.
Today, their achievements on the pitch inspire millions. Off the pitch, both Messi and Lamine Yamal use their voices… pic.twitter.com/TSoUPDxia2
— UNICEF (@UNICEF) July 16, 2026
Also see: Kylian Mbappe breaks historic World Cup knockout record
Past FIFA World Cup winners
From 2022 to 1930, below are the countries that lifted the World Cup trophy.
2022
- 1st place: Argentina
- 2nd place: France
- 3rd place: Croatia
2018
- 1st place: France
- 2nd place: Croatia
- 3rd place: Belgium
2014
- 1st place: Germany
- 2nd place: Argentina
- 3rd place: Netherlands
2010
- 1st place: Spain
- 2nd place: Netherlands
- 3rd place: Germany
2006
- 1st place: Italy
- 2nd place: France
- 3rd place: Germany
2002
- 1st place: Brazil
- 2nd place: Germany
- 3rd place: Turkey
1998
- 1st place: France
- 2nd place: Brazil
- 3rd place: Croatia
1994
- 1st place: Brazil
- 2nd place: Italy
- 3rd place: Sweden
1990
- 1st place: West Germany
- 2nd place: Argentina
- 3rd place: Italy
1986
- 1st place: Argentina
- 2nd place: West Germany
- 3rd place: France
1982
- 1st place: Italy
- 2nd place: West Germany
- 3rd place: Poland
1978
- 1st place: Argentina
- 2nd place: Netherlands
- 3rd place: Brazil
1974
- 1st place: West Germany
- 2nd place: Netherlands
- 3rd place: Poland
1970
- 1st place: Brazil
- 2nd place: Italy
- 3rd place: West Germany
1966
- 1st place: England
- 2nd place: West Germany
- 3rd place: Portugal
1962
- 1st place: Brazil
- 2nd place: Czechoslovakia
- 3rd place: Chile
1958
- 1st place: Brazil
- 2nd place: Sweden
- 3rd place: France
1954
- 1st place: West Germany
- 2nd place: Hungary
- 3rd place: Austria
1950
- 1st place: Uruguay
- 2nd place: Brazil
- 3rd place: Sweden
1938
- 1st place: Italy
- 2nd place: Hungary
- 3rd place: Brazil
1934
- 1st place: Italy
- 2nd place: Czechoslovakia
- 3rd place: Germany
1930
- 1st place: Uruguay
- 2nd place: Argentina
- 3rd place: United States
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