Winning a FIFA World Cup is the ultimate accomplishment in international soccer. Established in 1930, the World Cup is the most popular sporting tournament on earth. Every four years fans across the globe hope for national glory on the pitch, but only a select few nations have ever taken home the trophy. Here, we will recount the full list of World Cup winners by year, starting with the inaugural 1930 contest.

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1930 – Uruguay

Beginning our list of FIFA World Cup winners by year is Uruguay who took home the inaugural title in 1930. Uruguay, the host country, defeated South American rival side Argentina 4-2 after scoring three unanswered goals in the second half.

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1934 – Italy

Second on the chronological list of World Cup champions is Italy who took home the 1934 trophy on their home soil, defeating Czechoslovakia in the final in Rome by a score of 2-1. The match was a thriller as Italian forward Angelo Schiavio scored the go-ahead goal in the 95th minute. 

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1938 – Italy

Taking home their second of four eventual World Cups was Italy again in 1938. The Italian side had a much easier time in the final against Hungary then they had four years earlier, riding a 3-1 half time lead to a 4-2 full time victory. Sadly, because of World War II this would be the last World Cup held for 12 years.

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1950 – Uruguay 

Brazil played host to the first World Cup since World War II. In a new final format in which four finalists played a round robin group stage to determine the champion, Uruguay defeated the host country in the de facto championship match in front of over 173,000 fans. 

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1954 – Germany

The first team on the list of World Cup winners other than Italy and Uruguay is the 1954 West German side, who upset an extraordinarily talented Hungary team in the final by a 3-2 score. The Hungarians took a two-goal lead by the eighth minute but the German side equalized in the 18th. Right winger Helmut Rahn would score in the 84th giving Germany a lead that would not be surpassed. 

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1958 – Brazil

Brazil defeated host nation Sweden in the 1958 World Cup final by a score of 5-2. This match holds the record for most goals scored in the history of World Cup final matches. For Brazil, a pair of goals each were scored by national legends Vavá and Pelé. This would be the first of Brazil’s five World Cups, the most of any nation on the list of World Cup champions.

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1962 – Brazil

Despite losing superstar forward Pelé to injury, Brazil was able to defeat Czechoslovakia in the 1962 World Cup final 3-1. Czechoslovakia struck first in the 15th but Brazil equalized two minutes later. They would add two goals in the second half to secure victory at Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile. 

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1966 – England

In one of the most legendary matches ever played, England defeated West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final, 4-2. This was The Three Lions’ first–and only–World Cup. The host nation delivered a stunning extra-time victory in front of their countrymen at Wembley Stadium thanks to Geoff Hurst’s hat trick, the first in the history of World Cup final matches. 

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1970 – Brazil

The first champion of the 1970s in the list of World Cup winners by year is Brazil. This was their third World Cup, the first national team to achieve this feat. Mexico was the 1970 host country and the final was played in the famed Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Though the match was the first time two former champions had met in a final, Brazil made short work of the Italian side by a final score of 4-1. 

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1974 – West Germany

Host nation West Germany took home their second World Cup in 1974 after defeating Netherlands in the final by a score of 2-1. The match was held at Olympiapark in Munich, which had opened two years earlier to host the Olympic games. Goalscorers for West Germany in the match were Paul Breitner and Gerd Müller.

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1978 – Argentina

Next on the list of World Cup champions is the 1978 Argentina side. Led by their captain, defender Daniel Passarella, the Argentines defeated the Netherlands in extra time by a score of 3-1. The second consecutive host nation to win after West Germany four years earlier, the match was played in front of over 71,000 in Buenos Aires. 

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1982 – Italy

The 1982 World Cup held in Spain saw an expanded field from 16 to 24 teams competing. In the end, it was Italy who won their third World Cup, matching Brazil at the time. The Azzurri defeated West Germany 3-1 in the final match held in Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

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1986 – Argentina

Diego Maradona cemented his legacy as a national hero as the striker led Argentina to its second World Cup in 1986. The final match, held in Estadio Azteca, saw Maradona’s Argentine squad defeat West Germany on a goal in the 84th minute by Jorge Burruchaga assisted by Maradona. Though this was Argentina’s second championship in three World Cups, they would not win a third until 2022.

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1990- West Germany

In their last World Cup appearance before German reunification, West Germany would raise the trophy for the third time. They defeated Maradona’s Argentina side in a rematch of the 1986 final on a penalty kick by Andreas Brehme in the 85th minute. This was the first time since 1950 that a European team defeated a South American team in the World Cup final.

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1994 – Brazil

The 1994 World Cup final was set up to be one for the ages, as Brazil and Italy, the two nations with the most World Cups, faced off head to head to seek their fourth world championship. After a nil-nil score following regulation and extra time, the contest went to penalty kicks where Brazil ultimately defeated the Italians 3-2. 

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1998 – France

In 1998, the World Cup expanded its field once more, bringing the total number of competing teams to 32, where it stands today. The 1998 tournament also saw a first time winner added to the list of World Cup champions in France, the first since Argentina 20 years earlier. The host Les Bleus handily defeated Brazil 3-0 in Stade de France, their own national stadium. 

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2002 – Brazil

On a pair of goals from Ronaldo, Brazil won their record fifth World Cup in 2002, defeating Germany 2-0. The 2002 World Cup marked the first time the event was held in Asia, as Japan and South Korea hosted the tournament jointly. The final was played in Yokohama, Japan at Nissan Stadium in front of over 69,000.

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2006 – Italy

The 2006 edition of the World Cup was distinctively European. Germany played host and in the final, Italy defeated their rival France in penalty kicks. The score at the end of regulation and extra time was even at a goal each. In penalties, Italy scored five to France’s three delivering the Azzurri their fourth World Cup.

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2010 – Spain

Two important firsts marked the 2010 World Cup. Thanks to host nation South Africa, the tournament was played on the African continent for the first time. Thanks to a goal in extra time by Andrés Iniesta, Spain added their name to the list of world cup winners. La Roja defeated the Dutch side in front of almost 85,000 at Soccer City in Johannesburg. 

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2014 – Germany

Though all eyes were on Lionel Messi and Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final, it would be the German side that would take home their fourth World Cup thanks to late-game heroics from young striker Mario Götze. The German forward would score in the 113th minute to propel his team to a 1-0 victory.

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2018 – France

Though arguably the greatest generation of Croatian footballers were able to reach the World Cup final in 2018, they were no match for the French side. Led by teenage phenom Kylian Mbappe and their captain, veteran goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, Les Blues won their second World Cup by beating Croatia 4-2 in the final.

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2022 – Argentina

Perhaps the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi finally added a FIFA World Cup Trophy to his trophy case in 2022. Controversially hosted by Qatar, the tournament was held in the winter due to the intense desert heat in Qatari summers. The final moved to penalty kicks after a 3-3 draw following extra time. Argentina ultimately prevailed over defending champion France in PKs, 4-2.

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