The 1970 Final in Mexico City: Pele and the Birth of the Modern Football Era
The 1970 final in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium was a landmark event, marking the first time the global tournament was broadcast in vibrant color to a massive international audience. This final saw Brazil, led by Pelé, triumph over Italy with a decisive 4-1 victory. Pelé scored the opening goal with a powerful header and provided the iconic assist for Carlos Alberto’s final goal, a moment that encapsulated the team’s philosophy. Brazil’s innovative 4-2-4 formation, a system with four forwards, two midfielders, and four defenders, prioritized fluid, attacking football and showcased a blend of individual brilliance and collective teamwork that became a blueprint for future generations. Pelé’s performance on this stage solidified his status not just as a champion, but as football’s first true global television icon.
Picture the scene: the sun-drenched pitch of the Azteca, the roar of over 100,000 fans, and the world watching in a way it never had before. This was more than just a football match; it was the dawn of a new era. When Pelé rose above the Italian defense to head in the opening goal, he wasn’t just putting Brazil ahead. He was announcing the arrival of a team that played with a joy and creativity that felt revolutionary.
The Brazilian team of 1970 is often remembered as one of the greatest of all time, and for good reason. Their 4-2-4 formation was a bold statement. It allowed players like Jairzinho, Tostão, and Rivelino to interchange positions, creating chaos for rigid European defenses. Pelé was the conductor of this orchestra, a player with the vision to see plays develop three steps ahead of everyone else.
His most memorable contribution, beyond his own goal, was the final one. With Brazil already leading 3-1 and the match nearing its conclusion, Pelé received the ball near the edge of the Italian penalty area. Instead of shooting, he instinctively rolled a perfectly weighted pass into space, without even looking. You can almost see it in slow motion: the defender is drawn to Pelé, creating an open lane. Into this lane stormed the captain, Carlos Alberto, who struck the ball with ferocious power into the back of the net.
That single play was a summary of everything this team stood for: skill, intelligence, and a selfless commitment to beautiful, effective football. For the millions watching on their new color televisions, Pelé and Brazil didn’t just win the ultimate football prize; they defined what it meant to play the game with style and flair on the biggest stage.
The 1986 Final in Mexico City: Maradona, Grit, and the Weight of a Nation
Sixteen years later, the Azteca Stadium again hosted the final, but the atmosphere was completely different. The 1986 final between Argentina and West Germany was not a festival of fluid beauty like in 1970; it was a tense, gritty battle defined by resilience, pressure, and the singular genius of Diego Maradona. Argentina secured a 3-2 victory, but the story of the match was one of struggle and ultimate triumph, with Maradona providing the decisive assist for the winning goal after West Germany had clawed their way back from a two-goal deficit.
If you ask an older relative about the greatest players, they might argue for Maradona, and this tournament is why. His era was physically punishing, where star players were often targeted with brutal tackles. In the final, West Germany assigned Lothar Matthäus, one of the world’s best man-markers, to shadow Maradona’s every move. This tactic effectively limited Maradona’s ability to score himself, but it couldn’t nullify his influence.
The match unfolded like a high-stakes drama. Argentina surged to a 2-0 lead through goals from José Luis Brown and Jorge Valdano, and it seemed they were cruising to victory. But you can never count out a German side. They fought back with two goals from set-pieces, a corner-kick routine that exposed an Argentinian weakness, leveling the score at 2-2 with less than ten minutes to play. The momentum had completely shifted, and the Argentinian dream was on the verge of collapse.
In this moment of immense pressure, with the weight of a nation on his shoulders, Maradona delivered. He wasn’t the goalscorer, but he was the creator. Receiving the ball in the center circle and seeing Jorge Burruchaga begin a run, Maradona drew in the defenders before threading a perfect through-ball—a pass sent between defenders into open space. It was a pass of sublime vision and timing. Burruchaga ran onto it and coolly slotted the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.
Maradona didn’t score in the final, but his contribution was arguably more significant. He showed that a player’s greatness isn’t just measured in goals, but in leadership, spatial awareness, and the ability to produce a moment of magic when the team needs it most. This victory was a testament to grit and the power of an individual to inspire a nation.
The 2022 Final in Lusail: Messi, Tactical Endurance, and a Career Culmination
Fast forward to the 2022 final in Qatar, and you have a match that felt like the culmination of everything that came before it. The final between Argentina and France was a breathtaking spectacle of emotion and tactical warfare. It was a rollercoaster that saw Lionel Messi and his team go 2-0 up, only to be stunned by a rapid French comeback led by Kylian Mbappé, forcing extra time and an eventual penalty shootout that Argentina won 4-2.
For anyone who watched this match live, the memory is still fresh. It was a contest that had everything. Argentina started with a tactical masterstroke, deploying Ángel Di María on the left wing to exploit the space behind France’s attack. The plan worked perfectly. Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot, and Di María finished a brilliant team move to make it 2-0. For 80 minutes, Argentina was in complete control.
Then, in a stunning turn of events, the match was turned on its head. Mbappé scored a penalty and, just 97 seconds later, equalized with a spectacular volley. The momentum swung violently, and the match entered a chaotic, end-to-end phase in extra time. Messi, at 35 years old, had adapted his game. He was no longer the player who would sprint past five defenders. Instead, he had become a master of energy conservation, a precise playmaker who chose his moments to strike.
And strike he did. In extra time, he was in the right place at the right time to bundle the ball over the line, seemingly scoring the winner. But the drama wasn’t over. France was awarded another penalty, which Mbappé converted to complete his hat-trick and send the final to a penalty shootout. It was a contest of incredible mental fortitude.
This match was the final chapter in Messi’s long and decorated career. For years, critics had pointed to his lack of a major international trophy as the one missing piece in his legacy. The 2022 tournament in Qatar was his answer. He was not just a passenger; he was the central figure, delivering in crucial moments with goals and assists. Winning the shootout and lifting the trophy was the ultimate culmination of a journey, a moment that connected the modern fan’s experience with the historical weight of the sport’s biggest prize.
Settling the Family Debate: How Three Eras Connect Across Generations
Every family that loves football has had the debate. Your grandfather might tell you there was no one like Pelé, a king who played with a smile. Your father might counter that Maradona was tougher, a rebellious genius who carried his team through sheer force of will. And you, having grown up watching him, know that Messi’s consistency and technical perfection are unmatched. So, who is right?
The truth is, comparing them directly is like comparing different genres of music. It misses the point. Each of these three legends was the perfect player for his specific era, a reflection of how the game was played, watched, and understood at the time.
Pelé was the star of football’s coming-of-age on television. His 1970 performance was a global broadcast of joy and attacking freedom. The game was less structured, allowing for individual flair to shine brightly. He represents the genesis of modern football, a time of optimistic, expansive play.
Maradona embodied the 1980s. Football had become more physical, cynical, and defensive. To succeed, a star player needed not just skill but also immense mental toughness and a rebellious spirit to fight against the brutal marking. Maradona was that warrior, an individual who could bend a game to his will through grit and moments of unparalleled brilliance.
Messi is the product of the modern, analytical age. In an era of deep tactical systems, video analysis, and advanced sports science, he achieved a level of sustained excellence that is hard to comprehend. His genius is not just in his dribbling or scoring but in his football intelligence—his ability to read the game, find space, and make the perfect decision, over and over again, for nearly two decades.
Instead of arguing about who was better, you can see them as part of a single, evolving story. Pelé wrote the first chapter on the global stage, Maradona added a chapter of drama and defiance, and Messi provided the epic conclusion. Understanding this allows you to connect with older relatives, appreciating that their hero was exactly what football needed at that moment, just as yours is today. The shared love for these distinct memories is what unites generations of fans.
Common Questions About Football's Most Defining Final Matches
Did Pelé score in the 1970 final?
Yes, Pelé scored the opening goal for Brazil against Italy in the 1970 final. He scored with a header in the 18th minute, giving his team a 1-0 lead in a match they would go on to win 4-1.
Did Maradona score in the 1986 final?
No, Diego Maradona did not score in the 1986 final against West Germany. However, he provided the crucial, game-winning assist for Jorge Burruchaga’s goal in the 86th minute, which secured a 3-2 victory for Argentina.
How many goals did Messi score in the 2022 final?
Lionel Messi scored two goals in the 2022 final against France. He scored the opening goal from a penalty in the first half and scored again in extra time. He also successfully converted his penalty during the decisive shootout.
