Competition by its nature leads to comparison but there is no title to play for in this piece. Instead, we’ve asked several Getty photographers to pick their favourite shots from the past five World Cup tournaments that best capture the beauty and emotion of effort, grace, victory and defeat.
Argentina v France: Final – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
“This photo was taken at least 30 minutes after the main trophy lift. All the Argentina fans and photographers are waiting for Messi to go over to acknowledge the fans. All the Getty Images photographers had a loose plan of what we’d capture, but luck also kicked in with this picture. This is the first moment he opened his arms with the biggest of smiles two metres in front of me, whilst I was looking up on a 24-70mm lens.” Shaun Botterill.
France v Croatia: Final – 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia
“What makes this image special is not only the celebration itself, but the access and the atmosphere around it. Thanks to FIFA’s exclusive access, I was the only photographer allowed on the pitch after the celebrations, which gave me a very different perspective on the aftermath of the World Cup final.
“The fireworks had just finished and the rain had left smoke and haze hanging inside Luzhniki Stadium. As the light came through that haze, it created visible rays above Paul Pogba while he held the World Cup Trophy. The combination of the smoke, rain, light and the space around him helped give the image a stronger sense of atmosphere than a standard trophy celebration.
“Technically, I wanted to keep the frame wide enough to show the scale of the stadium, the crowd, the haze and the pitch. The access allowed me to stay low and close, but the wider composition lets the atmosphere become part of the story. For me, it feels less like a standard trophy picture and more like a surreal, emotional moment in the aftermath of France winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup.” David Ramos
Italy v France: Final – FIFA World Cup 2006 Germany
“The picture came following the 2006 final after Italy won on penalties against France, where my colleague Shaun Botterill and I were in prime position for the cup presentation.
“I was shooting tighter on a 400mm concentrating on the Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro, and as the players went on a lap of honour they suddenly started to reach out and touch the trophy en masse. I quickly balanced on top of a metal barrier near the front row of seats for extra height and took the image. I remember other photographers pulling at my feet trying to reach my position on the barrier, but the moment was over in a flash. The confetti and pyrotechnic smoke also adds to the picture.
Trophy presentations can sometimes feel staged, but this felt like a more impulsive and natural way of a team coming together, bonding in their historic moment.” Michael Steele
Netherlands v Spain: Final – FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa
“There are moments in every FIFA World Cup that transcend the match itself and become part of football folklore. Nigel de Jong’s challenge on Xabi Alonso in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final is unquestionably one of them.
Positioned perfectly to capture the incident, this image freezes the exact moment De Jong’s outstretched boot meets Alonso’s chest, preserving one of the most controversial flashpoints in World Cup history. Shown only a yellow card by referee Howard Webb, the challenge immediately sparked debate, with many believing the Netherlands midfielder was fortunate to remain on the pitch. More than fifteen years later, the photograph remains one of the enduring visual symbols of South Africa 2010, a split second that encapsulated the tension, physicality and controversy of a fiercely contested final.” Laurence Griffiths.
England v Belgium: Group G – FIFA World Cup 2018 Russia
“Occasionally we are allowed to work from the ‘catwalk’ of a stadium, up 80 or 100 metres above the field. Only a small group of people are allowed up there. It comes with a long process of approval, training courses, safety belts, helmets, sometimes even medical certificates, because you need to be able to work at height.
“The pressure is massive. You are standing above people’s heads, so if you drop even a single small thing, the reality is you could seriously hurt somebody. Everything you take up there has to have a double connection. Every camera, every lens, even your phone, has to be attached. You empty your pockets. You can’t take spare pieces, because everything could fall. But it is a mega opportunity.
“This was Belgium versus England, and a header with six players involved, which does not happen often and is hard to predict from above. I like it because it is a different football image, an angle you do not see every day. I am a big fan of the green grass and the clean background, but it is also about what goes into getting there. You are lucky if six players jump for one header and you can still see the faces, the action, body language, the white line and the colours. In the end, it all just came together.”Matthias Hangst
Argentina v France: Final – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
“The FIFA World Cup Final in Doha was my first World Cup final, and I knew I was witnessing history. Like everyone else on the pitch, I expected the defining image of the night to be Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup trophy. Before that moment, he walked past the trophy as he received the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player. At this moment he turned and looked toward the photographers, managed to capture this frame. Is just a quiet and simple photo but still powerful.” Maja Hitij