Top 10 Best Football Matches of All Time - Ranked

There are too many memorable moments that football has provided to its worldwide fans. Among them, very few were of great quality, as they are considered the best football matches of all time. All these legendary matches cut across generations with their names written down in the eventful history of the sport. Be it the pulse-raising action of Liverpool against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final, or the magnificence of Brazil vs Italy in the 1970 World Cup final, such games only leave people breathless and wanting more.

Raw emotion, twists and turns and performances that are simply legendary all characterize the best football matches of all time. Consider the 2014 World Cup semi-final when Germany humiliated Brazil 7-1 or the 1999 Champions League final when Manchester United overcame Bayern Munich in the dying moments; these are not mere matches but magic. Behold our 10 best football matches all time.

List of Best Matches in Football History

The greatest football matches of all time are not about the victorious teams but the games that brought their dramas, passion and memories on the biggest of all stages. These matches will stay in the history of football, and they include World Cup finals, breath-taking Champions League matches as well as the sensational come-backs in the domestic leagues and cup competitions. This is a top ten list table of the greatest matches ever played in the history of football, ranked in order of impact, intensity, and overall legacy.

How We Ranked the Best Football Matches of All Time?

In order to find out the best football matches ever of all times, we carefully analyzed the games that left a footprint in the history and memory of this sport. The best football matches of all time are not about goals, titles; it is about unforgettable drama and emotional drive, and those moments, which can define the generation of fans.

Whether you are talking about gut-wrenching come-backs or a tactical masterclass, the story behind every game that is shortlisted as the best game in the history of football is yet to cross off the world. The following way we ranked the best match ever in football, which were selected based on certain factors that make them stand out to be great.

• Historical Importance- In many cases, the greatest football game of all time has a lot of historical significance attached to it. Be it the world-defining final of the World Cup or the game that altered the legacy of a club, the greatest game in the history of football has to have had a major impact on the history of sports.
• Dramas & Comebacks- The euphoria of a late-minute goal or a stunning comeback is a necessity in the greatest football match of all time. The best match ever in football is the one that is full of unpredictable conditions and moments of emotional effect.
• Football Quality- The game has to portray an unusual level of skills and accuracy to be rated as the greatest football game ever. The era of perfection in any game overshadows the result of the game, and it's the beauty of a football match.
• Memorable Moments- Legendary actions such as an astonishing goal or a spectacular save, or a tear-filled celebration turn into the best match ever in football. These unrivalled moments make it the best matches in football history.

Which is the Best Football Match Ever?

The UEFA Champions League 2005 Football final between Liverpool and AC Milan is believed by many people to have been the greatest football game that ever took place. It has an incredible 3-3 last-minute recovery, a great penalty shoot, and, in general, a blistering game in the history of football since it is packed with emotions, drama, and history, all of this given in one night. No other sport can be compared to the spirit of stand and delivery and unpredictability like that fateful night in Istanbul. It is the stamp of what defines the best football game at any given time, and it continues to motivate fans as the best game of all time in football history. Listed below are the 10 greatest football games ever.

Newcastle vs Arsenal (4-4)

The game played on the 16th of March 2011 in the Premier League and involving Arsenal and Newcastle United was one of the best games in football history and can be said to have been both unpredictable and emotional at the same time. The initial attacking rampage that Arsenal saw resulted in a 4-0 initial goal difference after only 26 minutes, and the crowd was already beginning to look forward to an old-fashioned victory. It was simply breathtaking, what happened next.

Newcastle mounted the second-half comeback of all time as they banged four to win the game and what stood out was the iconic 87th-minute volley by Cheick Tiot. This encounter has come to be regarded as one of the greatest football matches of all time, as it has been a lesson that there is never a safe goal, and it has been ranked among the greatest matches ever in football league encounters.

Brazil vs Italy (4-1)

The 1970 World Cup Final between Brazil and Italy is commonly referred to as the most beautiful performance of attacking football in a final and, without a doubt, one of the top matches of all time. With an icon like Pelé, Brazil stunned the world with chops, imagination, and balance in their game.

Starting with the iconic first goal scored by Pelé and ending with the breath-taking fourth goal by Carlos Alberto, this game was reflective of the Jogo Bonito mentality. It is not only recalled because it was such an overwhelming triumph, but because it was the finest game in the history of football in the field of artistic genius, in the biggest arena of sports.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City (3-1)

Real Madrid pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in the history of football when they played a comeback in the 2022 Champions League semi-final. One goal behind in two-leg play on the aggregate score, Madrid knocked twice in 90 seconds and another in extra time stunned Manchester City and got their ticket to the final.

This is a thriller that rightly takes its place among the greatest games in the history of football full of suspense, quality, and magic of the end game. The setting in the Bernabeu and the unreal story of comeback make it one of the candidates for the title of the greatest football game ever.

Chelsea vs Bayern Munich (1-1, Chelsea won on pens)

That was one of the most emotional and dramatic nights in the history of the club, the brand new UEFA Champions League final saw the club hand the trophy to the club back in 2012. Playing at the home field, the Bayern players controlled the ball and opportunities, but the determination of Chelsea saved them. A fairytale ending saw Didier Drogba score an equalizer late in the game as well as Petr Cech saving penalty shots.

To a large extent, this game composes what the greatest football games in history consist of dramatic, underdog victory, and memorable moments. To the fans of Chelsea and neutrals, it still ranks truly as one of the best matches in the history of the game of football.

France vs Argentina (3-3, Argentina won on pens)

Many will say that the World Cup final of 2022 in Qatar is the best football match ever in the history of the World Cup finals. Argentina went 2-0 thanks to an impressive start, but French striker Kylian Mbappé scored an eye-catching hat-trick to put his country back in the game. The match was going back and forth, finally to a heart-stopping penalty shoot-out.

There was everything: score, tension, performance of the legends, and one of the biggest stories in football- Lionel Messi's crowning. This is not only one of the best football matches to have ever happened, but a match that set the bar of the best match ever witnessed on the international stage of football.

Barcelona vs PSG (6-1)

One of the biggest comebacks in the history of football was witnessed in the 2017 Champions League Round of 16. The Real Madrid side had tallied 4 nil in the away game and needed a miracle-one that Barcelona provided. The genius of Neymar and the dramatic late finish at the 95th minute by Sergi Roberto led to a spectacular win of 6-1 over PSG.

This European tie is forever branded in the minds of people as one of the greatest football matches of all time, characterized by indomitable faith, offensive football and stoppage-time heroism. It is regularly referred to as the greatest match ever in soccer in terms of the overall turnaround and Champions League theatrics.

Italy vs West Germany (4-3 AET)

This 1970 World Cup was the semi-final match between Italy and West Germany, which was dubbed as the Game of the Century, as it has been remembered as one of the most memorable matches ever in the history of football. During extra time alone, five goals were added and despite the chaos of the match, Italy scored the winning goal as Gianni Rivera sent Italy into victory.

The match is a timeless classic due to the intensity, quality, and stakes of this contest. It has been considered for decades to be one of the best ever football games of all time, a game that takes its historical significance and marries it with memorable drama.

Manchester United vs Bayern Munich (2-1)

The 1999 UEFA Champions League final game is not only a record in the history of comebacks but also a highlight in the career of Sir Alex Ferguson. Bayern were ahead of the game since the 6th minute, but Manchester United scored two goals in stoppage time and won the treble.

It is among the greatest football games of all time by its spectacle, clock management and emotional impact. Even the ending itself is one of the biggest reasons why it can be considered one of the best football matches of all time, turning hopelessness into rapture in a mere two minutes.

Germany vs Brazil (7-1)

In the World Cup semi-final match of 2014, Germany recorded a victory that shocked the sporting world. They tore the host country, Brazil, apart, scoring five goals in the first 30 minutes, which is to date, one of the most unreal outcomes of the tournament.

This game remains to be ranked highly as one of the best football games ever played, not based on the balance of the game, but rather its historical, emotional, and dramatic moments and memorable moments. It was a special one in the list of the best matches in the history of football as it reset the standards in world competitions. This ranks 2nd as the best football match ever due to the high intensity game, pressure, and the outrageous courage the Germans showed that night in Brazil, shocking the football universe.

Liverpool vs AC Milan (3-3, Liverpool won on pens)

The Champions League final of 2005 is considered to be the greatest football match of all time and can be called the contemporary myth of football. The first half saw a masterclass performance by AC Milan, which was leading 3-0 at halftime. Liverpool, despite this lead, stormed back with three goals in six minutes during the second half. It ended up in a penalty, and Jerzy Dudek, one of the best goalkeepers of all time, pulled off some heroic saves that secured Liverpool their fifth European trophy.

This night will go down in the history of football as one of the best ever, with stakes, a comeback, an emotional roller coaster, and more. It has, by far, been the most memorable game in the history of football due to the memorable story and the sensation it left on the world of football. This ranks down amongst the best football matches of all time.