20 strange moments that have redefined World Cup history

Every four years, the World Cup has given us joy, excitement, and tears. Sometimes at the same time! A game, by default, lasts 90 minutes, but some moments stay with us forever. Join us as we take a look at some of the most memorable moments!

Here you can see French striker Zinédine Zidane leaving the field after headbutting Marco Materazzi during the final game of the Germany 2006 World Cup. The Italian footballer had made disparaging comments about Zidane's family, who got a red card for his assault. France would lose to Italy in penalties.

Another footballer who also used his head was Netherlands national team's Robin van Persie. When his team played against Spain during the Brazil 2010 World Cup final, the Dutch footballer scored the first of the team's five goals with an exceptional diving header.

One of the most unusual events at the World Cup happened in 2014 when Uruguayan footballer Luis Suárez sank his teeth into the shoulder of Italy's Giorgio Chiellini in the middle of an early-stage game. The incident wasn't sanctioned by the referee, maybe he was afraid he would be next?

Of course, you can't talk about unusual World Cup moments without bringing up Argentina's Diego Armando Maradona! During a 1994 match against Nigeria in the group stage, a nurse came down to the field to test Maradona for a doping control!

During the 2016 Euro Cup, Iceland's national team gave a remarkable performance. However, the team's fans also stood out with the so-called 'viking clap', which was also seen during the Russia 2018 World Cup.

Nothing went as planned for Neymar during the Brazil 2014 World Cup. The football star, playing for the host team, suffered a serious back injury during the quarter-finals against Colombia. Sometime later, he revealed that he was mere inches away from never walking again.

The Brazil national team, however, didn't recover from Neymar's injury. The host team would lose 7-1 against Germany in a defeat that Brazilians still mourn to this day.

Argentina hosted the World Cup in 1978, a controversial event due to the military dictatorship that had come to power two years before.

Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff refused to play in the tournament to protest the Argentine military junta in power. Ultimately, Argentina would beat the Netherlands in the finals, earning its first world cup.

It's impossible to talk about Argentina at the World Cup without mentioning England-Argentina in the quarter-finals during the Mexico 1986 World Cup. An illegal hand goal by Maradona was accepted as a header, breaking a tie between the two teams. Maradona himself nicknamed the gesture 'The hand of God'.

West Germany, led by Franz Beckenbauer, won the world cup for a second time after defeating the Netherlands 2-1, despite the presence of the great Johan Cruyff on the Dutch team.

Here you can see 17-year-old Pelé, in tears, after having scored twice against Sweden. The Brazilian team would defeat the Scandinavians 5-2, winning the first of many World Cups.

1958 was also a good year for France's Just Fontaine. The striker set a record, scoring 13 goals during the Sweden 1958 World Cup.

Didier Deschamps, then captain of the French national team, holds the trophy after defeating Brazil in the World Cup finals. 20 years later, Deschamps would hold the World Cup again, this time as coach of Les Bleus.

The France-Italy match during the semifinals of the Spain 1982 World Cup was very memorable, but for all the wrong reasons. A violent fight between German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher and French defender Patrick Battiston ended with Battiston being taken out on a stretcher.

During Mexico 1970, Pelé won his third and last world cup with a 4-1 Brazil victory over Italy. The Brazilian footballer remains to this day the only player to earn the trophy three times.

The South Africa 2010 World Cup was the first time that the international tournament took place in Africa. The image of Nelson Mandela holding the trophy has become not only memorable but also an important part of the history of football.

South Africa 2010 was also memorable for Spain. During the final against the Netherlands, Andrés Iniesta scored the winning goal 116 minutes in, granting the Mediterranean country its first World Cup.

Long before Maradona's “hand of God”, there was England's “Wembley Goal” against Germany when they hosted the 1966 World Cup. Led by Bobby Moore, the team's third goal remains controversial: there's still debate today whether it crossed the goal line or not.

The 1994 World Cup final between Brazil and Italy ended up in penalties. Italy's Roberto Baggio was the last man called to kick, hitting the bar and granting victory to the South American team. Baggio has said in interviews that he “never recovered” from that moment.

What images will be most remembered about the World Cup in Qatar? Certainly images of protest, the German team covering their mouth, or the Iranians not singing their national anthem.

Or images like this of Ronaldo crying after his team lost against Morocco, reminding us of the end of an era. What is true is that some great moments of this World Cup will remain with us for a long time.