Gold Stars: The Story of the FIFA World Cup Tournaments

The best action…

…the biggest names…

…and the greatest stories…

from football's most prestigious competitions.

This is Gold Stars: The Story of the FIFA World Cup Tournaments.

Our first FIFA World Cup icon is a player whom many consider

to be the greatest footballer of all time.

Pelé.

In 1958 in Sweden,

he announced himself in the quarter-finals against Wales

with a goal as precocious as his talent.

That was followed by a hat trick in the semi-final against France,

and two goals in the final against Sweden, as Brazil won five-two

to lift their first ever FIFA World Cup trophy.

Pelé was only 17 years old.

It was a spectacular way for the new Brazilian number ten to introduce himself.

The next two tournaments were disappointing for him personally.

In 1962, a knee injury left his teammate Garrincha

to take the limelight.

The dazzling winger inspiring Brazil to the final,

where Pelé watched on as his country defeated Czechoslovakia three-one

to win consecutive titles.

In Brazil's opening match in 1966,

Pelé scored a free kick in a win over Bulgaria

as Brazil chased three FIFA World Cup titles in a row.

But then came his nadir.

Against Portugal, he hurt his knee again,

and Brazil unexpectedly went out in the group stage.

Disheartened, he contemplated retiring at just 25 years of age.

But he continued,

and his FIFA World Cup career finished as brilliantly as it had begun.

In Mexico in 1970,

the tournament was broadcast in color for the first time,

and the world saw Brazil at their very best,

with Pelé at their heart.

A goal scorer with pace, skill, audacity,

vision, two great feet,

and aerial ability.

In his attacking mid-field role, he scored four goals

and laid on five

as perhaps the greatest team in history

claimed their country's third FIFA World Cup,

defeating Italy four-one in the final.

Twelve years on from his tournament debut,

Pelé had well and truly cemented his legacy,

a global footballing icon.

Pelé was 17 years and 239 days old

when he became the youngest player to score in a FIFA World Cup,

against Wales in 1958.

At 17 years and 41 days, Northern Ireland's Norman Whiteside

is the youngest player to feature in the finals,

playing in 1982.

- -

At 43 years and three days,

Faryd Mondragón is the oldest player,

appearing for Colombia in 2014.

At 42 years and 39 days,

Cameroon's Roger Milla became the oldest goal scorer,

against Russia in 1994.

At 40 years and 133 days, Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff

is the oldest man to play in a FIFA World Cup final.

517 is the record number of consecutive minutes

during which a goalkeeper hasn't conceded, set by Italy's Walter Zenga in 1990.

2,217 minutes is the record for playing time,

set by Italian defender Paolo Maldini across four FIFA World Cups

starting in 1990.

Only one player has featured in three FIFA World Cup finals,

Brazilian full-back Cafu.

Only two men have played in five tournaments.

Mexican goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal

and Lothar Matthäus.

And the former German captain played in 25 matches in total,

another FIFA World Cup record.

Franz Beckenbauer's burst through the Swiss defense

for West Germany in 1966

kicks off our top ten individual goals from the FIFA World Cup.

In 1990, against Yugoslavia,

Lothar Matthäus echoed his countryman Beckenbauer

with this drive from midfield -- an unstoppable strike.

Nobody typified the skill of the 1986 Denmark team

more than Michael Laudrup.

This was the standout moment in a six-one crushing of Uruguay.

In 1978, Scotland defeated the Netherlands 3-2.

Archie Gemmill scoring an iconic goal.

Diego Maradona's balance and close control was too much for Belgium,

as Argentina booked their place in the 1986 final.

Roberto Baggio, turning Czechoslovakia's defenders inside out for Italy

in their home FIFA World Cup in 1990.

The 17-year-old Pelé in 1958 against Sweden,

one of the greatest goals ever to grace the final.

Saeed Al-Owairan's buccaneering run, the only goal in the game

as Saudi Arabia beat Belgium in 1994.

In 1998, Argentina's defense was made to look statuesque

by England's Michael Owen, just 18 years old.

And finally in 1986, Maradona again

with his sublime run against England.

As the FIFA World Cup has evolved,

so have rich rivalries between the great nations,

producing momentous games of football.

Like Germany, or West Germany as it was, against Italy.

There was the 1982 final,

immortalized by Marco Tardelli's celebration as Italy won three-one.

More of the same came from Italy's Fabio Grosso,

as he and Alessandro Del Piero scored late extra-time goals

to knock out hosts Germany two-nil in 2006.

But perhaps their most famous game

is their 1970 semi-final in Mexico City,

a match labeled as the game of the 20th century.

In the first 90 minutes, the game was fairly normal.

Roberto Boninsegna gave Italy an early lead.

It seemed it might not be West Germany's day,

especially when talisman Franz Beckenbauer fractured his collarbone.

With no substitutes left, he had no choice but to carry on.

But with time almost out,

Karl-Heinz Schnellinger rescued his country,

-one-one. -

At full time, little did anyone know that something extraordinary was to come.

First, Gerd Müller, ever the opportunist, put West Germany ahead two-one.

- -

Then, Italy received a defensive present.

-Tarcisio Burgnich, two-two. -

And in the last minutes of the first period of extra-time,

Gigi Riva struck, three-two Italy.

The frenetic football continued in the second period.

West Germany responded.

- -Muller making it three-three.

But 60 seconds later, Gianni Rivera made it four-three.

And that breathlessly was that.

Five goals in 17 minutes.

Italy progressed to the final.

Germany might not hold the historical sway over Italy,

but they do over England.

England considered Germany to be major footballing rivals,

and defeat hurt.

There was the 1990 semi-final loss on penalties.

The 1970 quarter-final, when England were two-nil up

before Germany stormed back to win in extra-time, three-two.

The irrepressible Muller securing their stunning victory.

The four-one German win in the last 16 in 2010,

during which an incorrectly disallowed goal from England's Frank Lampard

hastened the introduction of goal line technology in 2014.

Not the first time a ball crossing or not crossing the line

had a bearing on this fixture.

1966, the final in London.

West Germany were faster out of the blocks.

Helmut Haller opening the scoring.

Then out of nothing, England were level at one-one.

Bobby Moore's quick thinking and Geoff Hurst guided the ball home.

Both teams had chances.

Before late in the second half,

England went ahead two-one through Martin Peters.

But with the host nation poised to celebrate,

West Germany's Wolfgang Weber equalized.

Two-two.

Then, in extra-time, came one of the most talked-about moments

in FIFA World Cup history.

Over the line or not, goal or no goal,

Azerbaijani assistant referee Tofiq Bahramov

thought the ball was in, and Hurst's second stood.

Three-two to England.

And in the last moment,

Geoff Hurst claimed the only ever FIFA World Cup final hat trick.

The trophy was England's, as was in hindsight

a rare victory over their rivals.

Now for a look at some of the great players to have graced

the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Mia Hamm was arguably the first true superstar of women's football.

A technically-gifted forward

and a brilliant creator and scorer of goals.