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There is something about the World Cup that brings out the best in soccer: the legendary games, the career-defining performances and, of course, the wonder goals.
Some of the best in history have been scored on soccer's biggest stage. While we wait to see what Brazil 2014 brings, here are the Daily News' top 10 greatest World Cup goals of all-time.
10: CARLOS ALBERTO, BRAZIL, 1970
Brazil finished Italy off in the 1970 World Cup final by showcasing its best attributes: perfect ball control, fluid movement and a series of passes that wore down the opponent before scoring almost at will. Seven teammates touched the ball before Pele set up a charging Carlos Alberto, who slotted it home with a right-footed volley to cap one of the greatest passing build-ups of all-time.
9: MICHAEL OWEN, ENGLAND, 1998
A then-18-year-old Owen captivated the world in 1998 with this work of beauty against Argentina. After getting a through ball from David Beckham, Owen left marker Jose Chamot in the dust and faked defender Roberto Ayala to his right before beating keeper Carlos Roa to the far post.
8: ARIE HAAN, HOLLAND, 1978
What a right foot on Arie Haan, a two-time World Cup runner-up with Holland (1974, 1978) who booted a screamer from no-man's-land off the right post and into the back of the net to give the Dutch a 2-1 win over Italy in the second round of the 1978 tournament.
7: MANUEL NEGRETE, MEXICO, 1986
Mexico's moment in the sun as host of the 1986 World Cup came in the round of 16, when Manuel Negrete controlled a long ball near the edge of the box and played a one-two with Javier Aguirre before unleashing a stunning scissor kick that helped send El Tri past Bulgaria.
6: ESTEBAN CAMBIASSO, ARGENTINA, 2006
Argentina provided one of the most inspired moments in World Cup history with a 58-second, 25-pass display involving nine players that ended with a brilliant back heel from Hernan Crespo to Esteban Cambiasso, who scored from close range to spark the Albiceleste to a 6-0 rout of Serbia and Montenegro.
5: SAEED AL-OWAIRAN, SAUDI ARABIA, 1994
'The Maradona of the Arabs' earned his nickname in the 1994 World Cup by running nearly the entire distance of the field, leaving a trail of Belgium defenders behind him as he slipped his shot past keeper Michel Preud'homme.
4: MAXI RODRIGUEZ, ARGENTINA, 2006
It doesn't get more impressive - or dramatic - than this gem of a goal. With a 2006 World Cup round-of-16 game between Argentina and Mexico tied 1-1 in extra time, Rodriguez broke the stalemate and sent the Albiceleste into the next round by getting under a floating pass from Juan Pablo Sorin and effortlessly chesting the ball to himself before smashing a left-footed volley into the upper left corner.
3: DENNIS BERGKAMP, HOLLAND,1998
Dutch striker extraordinaire Dennis Bergkamp saved one of his greatest goals for the World Cup, giving Holland a 2-1 win over Argentina in the waning moments of the 1998 quarterfinals with an epic display of ball control, technique and finishing. Frank de Boer sent a long pass from deep inside Dutch territory into the box, where Bergkamp stopped the ball on a dime, nutmegged defender Roberto Ayala and scored at the far post - all with his right foot.
2: PELE, BRAZIL, 1958
We could make up a top ten list of just Pele goals (he scored 12 over four World Cups), but none compare to this beauty from the 1958 final against Sweden. In one brilliant sequence, O Rei rids himself of his defender while chesting the ball down and then flicks it over the only remaining opponent inside the box before connecting a right-footed volley past the helpless keeper. Even more impressive, he was only 17 at the time.
1: DIEGO MARADONA, ARGENTINA, 1986
Just four minutes after his infamous 'Hand of God ' shenanigans, Maradona gave us the 'Goal of the Century' during the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal between Argentina and England. Deep inside his own half of the field, Maradona set off on a mad dash, weaving and bobbing past four defenders (Terry Butcher twice) in a 65-yard run that culminated with him dribbling around goalie Peter Shilton and slotting the ball home. Perfection.
We couldn't leave well enough alone and added some more World Cup wonder goals that deserve recognition. Should they have made the top ten? Did we completely blow it by forgetting any? Let us know in the comments below.
DINKO DERMENDZHIEV, BULGARIA, 1970
With Peru bracing for a free kick, Bulgaria used a bit of trickery and a perfect finish from Dinko Dermendzhiev to score this forgotten masterpiece from the 1970 World Cup.
NELINHO, BRAZIL, 1978
Was it a cross or a shot on goal? Judging by the spin on the ball and the ferocity of the kick, we're guessing the Brazilian right back knew exactly what he was doing when he beat Italian keeper Dino Zoff in the third-place game of the 1978 World Cup. Forget Beckham ... bend it like Nelinho.
ARCHIE GEMMILL, SCOTLAND, 1978
Scotland failed to live up to expectations at the 1978 World Cup, save for Archie Gemmill's spectacular solo effort against Holland.
DRAGAN STOJKOVIC, YUGOSLAVIA, 1990
It took equal parts talent and arrogance for Yugoslavian/Serbian legend Dragan Stojkovic to pull of this stunner against Spain in the 1990 World Cup quarterfinals.
SUNDAY OLISEH, NIGERIA,1998
The perfect definition of a screamer - off a volley, to boot - courtesy of Nigeria's Sunday Oliseh.