Best Men's World Cup performances of all time

The first nation to win back-to-back World Cups, Italy did so in the second and third tournaments. Paced by Giuseppe Meazza, the Italians outscored their opponents 23-8 over both World Cups. However, Italy did need extra time to defeat Czechoslovakia in '34 for that first of four World Cup titles.

With total points determining the World Cup champion, heavily favored Brazil needed only a tie against Uruguay to claim the crown on its home soil. Brazil won its previous two matches 13-2, but the pesky Uruguayans overcame a 1-0 deficit to tie the match midway through second half. Then, Alcides Ghiggia's goal in the 79th minute sent them to the improbable victory and World Cup title in the "El Maracanazo."

In what's known as the "Miracle of Bern," West Germany was not yet a world soccer power while mighty Hungary was the World Cup runner-up in 1938 and beat its finals opponent 8-3 earlier in the tournament. The Hungarians went ahead 2-0 during this rainy final in Switzerland, but West Germany tied it prior to the half, then capped what's considered the greatest comeback in World Cup history on Helmut Rahn's goal with six minutes to play.

Though the mighty Hungarian squad was stunned by West Germany in the 1954 final, Kocsis' overall tournament performance still ranks among the best in the history of the World Cup. He scored 11 of Hungary's 27 goals in the tournament, and his total still ranks second all time in World Cup history. For all that production, however, Kocsis was shut out in the final.

Making his World Cup debut at age 17, Pele showed why he would become the world's greatest soccer player, even today. He tallied his first World Cup goal in the quarterfinals, and then in the next round, Pele became the youngest player to record a hat trick. He scored twice in Brazil's 5-2 final win over Sweden.

France settled for a third-place World Cup finish in '58, but Fontaine's single tournament-record 13 goals is one mark many believe will never be broken. He scored in all six matches, recorded a hat trick in the opener against Paraguay and scored four times in a 6-3 victory over West Germany in the third-place match.

With star Pele injured early in the tournament, Brazil's chances of repeating as World Cup champion appeared to take a hit. However, Garrincha, whose given name was Manuel Francisco dos Santos, stepped up to score twice in a quarterfinal win over England and added two more goals in the semifinal victory over Chile. He was one of six players to score four goals in the tournament, including teammate Vava, as Brazil topped Czechoslovakia to complete the repeat. 

Hurst is still the only player to record a hat trick in a World Cup final, doing so in England's 4-2 victory over West Germany at home in extra time for the country's only title. Though it's not really certain his tiebreaker actually crossed the goal line, Hurst scored again to solidify the matter. That performance was a big reason Hurst was knighted by his country. 

Before there was Cristiano Ronaldo, there was Eusebio. The Portugal star won the Golden Boot Award at the '66 World Cup with nine goals. Four of them came in a row after Portugal fell behind North Korea 3-0 in the quarterfinals. He also scored in the 2-1 semifinal loss to eventual champion England and third-place win over the Soviet Union.

With 10 goals in 1970, Muller is the last player to notch double-digit goals in a World Cup. Known as "Bomber der Nation," or "Nation's Bomber," Muller recorded back-to-back hat tricks against Bulgaria and Peru in group play. His 14 total World Cup goals rank third all time.

The third of Brazil's five World Cup championship teams, by most accounts, is considered the best. Jairzinho, Pele and Rivelino combined to score 14 of Brazil's 19 goals. After taking out Uruguay 3-1 in the semifinals, Brazil had little trouble dispatching of Italy 4-1 to win its third title over a span of four World Cups.

Part of the Dutch's "Total Football" approach, Cruyff was the catalyst of the 1974 side that lost 2-1 to West Germany in the final. In the only World Cup he would play, Cruyff was named that tournament's best player after he scored two key goals in a win over Argentina and also scored versus Brazil.

Exactly 20 years after his nation's first World Cup triumph, Beckenbauer was the backbone of a West German defense that yielded four goals throughout the '74 tournament. He paid particular attention to Netherlands star Johan Cruyff, whom he stymied throughout the West's 2-1 victory in the final match. Beckenbauer's success on the pitch carried over to the touchline, where he managed West Germany to the 1990 World Cup title.

The Argentine superstar branded himself the best player in the world with his performance in Mexico. Maradona recorded five goals and five assists to win the Golden Ball Award and led Argentina to its second World Cup. Two of those goals occurred in memorable fashion during the 2-1 win over England in the quarterfinals: the controversial "Hand of God" punch followed by his remarkable romp through the English defense for what was dubbed the "Goal of the Century."

Zenga's play in goal was a major reason Italy finished third on its home soil in 1990. He recorded five straight clean sheets, and his 518 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal remains a World Cup record. However, he struggled in the shootout as Argentina downed Italy in the semifinals 4-3 on penalties.

Russia didn't make it out of the group stage in 1994, but its only victory of the tournament — 6-1 over Cameroon — was quite memorable. Salenko registered five goals in the match, which remains a single-game World Cup record. With six goals, Salenko shared the Golden Boot with Bulgaria's Hristo Stoichkov and is still the only player to win the award from a team that didn't make it out of group play.

The dream scenario came true for the French, who claimed their first title 60 years after the country hosted its first World Cup. Backed by a smothering defense, France held its opponents to just two goals for the tournament, highlighted by a dominating 3-0 victory over favored Brazil in a raucous final. 

It would be eight years later that Zidane's headbutt to the chest of Italy's Marco Materazzi would tarnish his legacy as a player, but nobody can take away his effort in leading France to a 3-0 win over Brazil in the '98 World Cup final. His two goals against the Brazilians made him an instant legend among the French.

Kahn remains the only keeper in the history of the World Cup to earn the Golden Ball Award, given to the tournament's best player. It came in 2002, when Kahn made a number of key saves as Germany finished runner-up to Brazil. He recorded a tournament-best five clean sheets, but his fumbling of a saved shot allowed Brazilian superstar Ronaldo to convert the rebound in a final's moment that still haunts German fans.

Sometimes confused with veteran actor Gene Hackman in resemblance, Scolari guided Brazil to its most recent World Cup title in 2002. Four years later, he managed Portugal to a fourth-place finish. His run of 11 consecutive coaching wins with Brazil and Portugal during that stretch is a World Cup record.