World Cup history: A look into the history books

The previous World Cup champions have all come from Europe or South America. European teams have won the World Cup twelve times, while the trophy has gone to a South American team nine times.  Teams from Africa, Asia, North America and Australia have never won a World Cup title. The record winner is Brazil with five World Cups won. It is followed by Germany and Italy.

All soccer world champions

  • Brazil: 5 (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002).
  • Germany: 4 (1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014)
  • Italy: 4 (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)
  • France: 2 (1998, 2018)
  • Argentina: 2 (1978, 1986)
  • Uruguay: 2 (1930, 1950)
  • Spain: 1 (2010)
  • England: 1 (1966)

Germany has the most semifinal appearances. They have qualified for the final round a total of thirteen times. With a total of 19 appearances, this is a truly impressive record. Brazil has reached the last four eleven times.

Players with the most World Cup appearances

  • Antonio Carbajal (MEX): 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966
  • Lothar Matthäus (GER): 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998
  • Rafael Márquez ‘(MEX):2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018
  • Gianluigi Buffon (ITA): 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014

Players with the most matches at World Cup finals

  • Lothar Matthäus (GER): 25
  • Miroslav Klose (GER): 24
  • Paolo Maldini (ITA): 23

Players with the most World Cup goals

  • Miroslav Klose (GER): 16 – 2002 (5), 2006 (5), 2010 (4), 2014 (2)
  • Ronaldo (BRA) 15 – 1998 (4), 2002 (8), 2006 (3)
  • Gerd Müller (GER) 14 – 1970 (10), 1974* (4)
  • Just Fontaine (FRA): 13 – 1958 (13)
  • Pelé (BRA): 12 – 1958* (6), 1962 (1), 1966 (1), 1970 (4)

Most…

  • World Cup matches: Brazil and Germany (109 each)
  • World Cup wins: Brazil (73 in 109 matches)
  • World Cup draws: England and Italy (21; including four games each decided by penalty shootout)
  • World Cup defeats: Mexico (27 in 57 matches)

The highest-scoring matches in World Cup history

  • 12 goals: Austria – Switzerland 7:5 in 1954 World Cup quarter-finals
  • 11 goals: Hungary – El Salvador 10:1 (preliminary round 1982), Hungary – Germany 8:3 (preliminary round 1954), Brazil – Poland 6:5 n. V. (Round of 16 1938)
  • 10 goals: France – Paraguay 7:3 (preliminary round 1958)