All the Golden Ball winners since its inception

1982 World Cup Final. Madrid, Spain. 11th July, 1982. Italy 3 v West Germany 1. Italy's Paolo Rossi celebrates after scoring the first goal.
1982 World Cup Final. Madrid, Spain. Italy 3 v West Germany 1. Italy's Rossi celebrates after scoring.

1986, Mexico - Diego Maradona (Argentina)

1986 World Cup Quarter Final, Azteca Stadium, Mexico, 22nd June, 1986, Argentina 2 v England 1, Argentina's Diego Maradona scores his side's first goal past English goalkeeper Peter Shilton by use of his hand, Maradona later claimed that the goal was scor
1986 World Cup Quarter Final, Argentina 2 v England 1, Argentina's Diego Maradona scores his side's first goal by use of his hand

This World Cup will ever be remembered as Maradona's World Cup, and he has done everything to lift the World Cup. He scored five goals in the process, two of them in the semi-finals against Belgium, and two of them came against England in the quarter-finals. He also made a crucial assist to Jorge Burruchaga in the 84th minute of the final against West Germany, which sealed the victory for them by 3-2.

He was best remembered for the game against England, where two of his most memorable moments happened. The infamous one, Maradona scored the first goal against England with the hand, but the referee had not spotted it and the goal stood.

Touted as the 'Goal of the century', Maradona, with his great dribbling skills scored one of the best individual goals ever. He ran past 60 yards and dummied the defenders in the process and feinted with a movement, in which the English goalkeeper fell on the ground and out of control, before guiding the ball into the back of the net.


1990, Italy - Salvatore Schillaci (Italy)

Salvatore Schillaci
Salvatore Schillaci

He was not a star before coming into this World Cup, and he got a nod to the team after the final warm-up match against Switzerland, where he was the sixth choice striker after Roberto Mancini, Gianluca Vialli, Andrea Carnevale, Aldo Serena and the 'Divine Ponytail' man Roberto Baggio.

During their first game in that World Cup, they weren't able to break down the Austrian defense, which gave the opportunity to a future star, who grabbed it with both hands and scored the only goal of the game.

He went on to score six goals and claimed the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe by beating the likes of Diego Maradona and Lothar Matthaus, but Matthaus lifted the cup and had the last laugh.

Quick Links

App download animated image Get the free App now