The greatest World Cup goals scored by Spurs players

On Thursday night, Richarlison scored one of the goals of the tournament so far at the 2022 FIFA World Cup as Brazil opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over Serbia in Lusail, Qatar.

His second on the night as he enjoyed a dream debut on the game’s greatest stage, our summer arrival from Everton produced an incredible piece of control to collect Vinicius Jr’s stabbed cross before spectacularly spinning and acrobatically volleying home.

Those goals saw him become the 17^th Spurs player to score at a World Cup and just the fifth to have scored more than once at the tournament after Jurgen Klinsmann (1998), Jan Vertonghen (2014 and 2018) and Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son (both 2018).

But, in light of the nature of Richy’s strike against Serbia, here a look at some of the best goals our players have been responsible on the World’s stage.

Gary Lineker | England vs West Germany

1990 FIFA World Cup |Turin, Italy | 4 July

Gary Lineker currently holds the prestigious record of most goals for England at World Cups. With six goals at Mexico ’86 and a further four at Italia ’90 the now BBC Match of the Day presenter leads the way for the Three Lions in that respect, but perhaps his best World Cup effort was saved to last.

Coming in the semi-finals of Italia ’90 and as England stared down the barrel of defeat of an agonising exit from the tournament, Lineker stepped up just when it was needed most. Trailing 1-0 to West Germany and with 10 minutes remaining, the striker produced a touch of genius to take Paul Parker’s diagonal down and away from three defenders. Having created a yard of space for himself, he then used his second touch to hook the ball across the goal and into the far corner to send the game to extra-time.

Despite Lineker’s goal though, England did ultimately exit the competition as, with the clash taken all the way to penalties, the Germans progressed to the final with a 4-3 win in the shootout.

Jurgen Klinsmann | Germany vs USA

1998 FIFA World Cup | Paris, France | 15 June

Coming in Germany’s opening game at the 1998 World Cup, the legendary Jurgen Klinsmann was on fine form in Paris to give his nation the perfect start. Enjoying at 2-0 win over the nation he would later go onto manage, Klinsmann provided the assist for Andreas Moller’s ninth minute opener before showing sublime control and the finish to match as he doubled Deutschland’s advantage in the second half.

With 65 minutes played in the French capital, Oliver Bierhoff sent a looping cross into the box for Klinsmann. Then, with just one defender to contend with, the striker followed the flight of the ball, adjusted his body to control it with his chest having allowed it to bounce before lifting it into the far right-hand corner, wrapping up the points for his country.

Darren Anderton | England vs Colombia

1998 FIFA World Cup | Lens, France | 26 June

In Group G at France ’98, it was a straight shootout between Colombia and England for a place in the knockout stages. With each side having won and lost one of their opening two games, they came up against each other on Matchday Three knowing it was winner takes all for a spot in the last 16. And it was Three Lions that took the initiative in this one, sparked by some magic from Darren Anderton.

Coming just 20 minutes into the game, the midfielder broke the deadlock in Lens with both skill and power. A hopeful cross from Michael Owen the right was easily headed away by Jorge Bermudez, but only into the path of Anderton who controlled the ball well before unleashing a fierce strike from the right channel into the roof of the net. David Beckham soon doubled the Three Lions lead with a just-as-impressive free-kick, sealing their progress to the next round.

It's 20 years since we last faced Colombia at a #WorldCup, with the #ThreeLions winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Darren Anderton and David Beckham.pic.twitter.com/yVncHQHHJt

— England (@England) July 3, 2018

Milenko Acimovic | Slovenia vs Paraguay

2002 FIFA World Cup | Seogwipo, Korea | 12 June

Slovenia may have endured a disappointing World Cup campaign in 2002, but Milenko Acimovic certainly gave them a moment to remember as they faced Paraguay in their final group outing. Having suffered defeat to both Spain and South Africa in their opening games of Group B, Slovenia went into Matchday Three with only pride to play for with them already out of the running for the knockout stages. However, on the stroke of half-time, they certainly found that pride as Acimovic came up with a moment of brilliance to give his nation the lead.

Collecting the ball on the right channel, the midfielder first showed his strength to hold off the attentions of a defender before producing a neat piece of skill to chop into the box, playing the ball through the legs of his opponent. He then deftly moved the ball clear as a defender slid in to challenge before firing his shot through the goalkeeper’s legs and in.

It was a stunning goal in the rain in Seogwipo but unfortunately, that moment of brilliance was all Slovenia would take from the game as Paraguay produced an impressive second-half comeback to run out 3-1 winners and progress to the round of 16.

Heung-Min Son | Korea Republic vs Mexico

2018 FIFA World Cup | Rostov, Russia | 23 June

A trademark Heung-Min Son strike gave Korea Republic a glimmer hope late on against Mexico in the group stages of the 2018 World Cup.

Having fallen in their Group F opener, 1-0 to Sweden, the Korea Republic really needed a positive result on Matchday 2 against Mexico to boost their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages. However, their Central American opponents flew out of the traps in Rostov and they were two goals to the good by 66 minutes, leaving the Warriors with a mountain to climb. They were crying out for a spark, and that’s just what Sonny provided.

Coming in the third minute of stoppage time, our number seven picked up the ball in one of his favourite positions - 25 yards out, just in from the right-hand channel – and from there, you could see exactly what he was going to attempt. Only a few players are capable of it, but it something we have seen the forward do on multiple occasions. Cutting in onto his left foot, Sonny created an extra yard of space for himself before incredibly curling the ball out of the reach of the diving goalkeeper and into the left-side netting.

Ultimately, it wasn’t enough for the Korea Republic to take anything from the game, nor would they progress in the competition, but in their final matchday, they did earn a 2-0 win over reigning Champions Germany, with Sonny scoring once more.

Those sleeping on Son have woken up this season! ☄️🇰🇷😴@Sonny7 | @theKFA pic.twitter.com/chzBbnoCYL

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) May 17, 2022

Jan Vertonghen | Belgium vs Japan

2018 FIFA World Cup | Rostov, Russia | 2 July

In one of the greatest comebacks the World Cup has ever seen, Jan Vertonghen produced quite the effort to spark it. One of the favourites for the crown in 2018, Belgium had finished top of Group G having won each of their three matches, including defeating England, and that earned them a round of 16 tie with Japan. An opponent who, on the other hand, had won just one of their three group games and had scraped through to the knockout stages on fair play points, the clash between Japan and the Red Devils appeared somewhat a full-gone conclusion before the first whistle had been blown, but the Japanese had other ideas as they put themselves 2-0 up early in the second half.

It was quite the shock, not just for their European opponents, but the football world as well with perhaps the most-fancied side seemingly heading towards the exit, however Belgium found a way to turn the game on its head, and that was all started by Jan on 69 minutes.

The goal came from ‘panic stations’ at the back for Japan as the ball bounced up and down in the box before eventually looping its way to our former Belgian defender who was almost standing on the edge of the box on the left-hand side. From there, the former Ajax man simply sent another looping header back into the danger zone but, as it flew back in, it curled over the goalkeeper and into the far corner of the net. Roberto Martinez’s side then struck twice in the final 25 minutes to book their place in the quarter-finals with former Spur Nacer Chadli scoring the winner.

Kieran Trippier | England vs Croatia

2018 FIFA World Cup | Moscow, Russia | 11 July

Kieran Trippier's opener against Croatia in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup is a moment few England fans will ever forget.

Coming just five minutes into the Three Lions' first World Cup semi-final in 28 years, the full-back found the back of the net with an inch-perfect free-kick. Stepping up to take the set piece after his then club team-mate Dele was fouled by former Spur Luka Modric, 'Tripps' whipped the ball spectacuarly over the wall and into the top right-hand corner of the net to cause utter delirium and mayhem back home.

However, that goal would not be enough to send Gareth Southgate's side to the final as the Croats fought back, now Spurs man Ivan Perisic levelling the scores on 68 minutes before Mario Mandzukic fired home the winner for the Balkans nation in extra-time.

GOAL! Kieran Trippier scores for @England with a fabulous free-kick! pic.twitter.com/WRQctKZakk

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 11, 2018

Richarlison | Brazil vs Serbia

2022 FIFA World Cup | Lusail, Qatar | 24 November

What a World Cup debut it was for Richarlison on Thursday! Having made his dreams come true earlier this season, raising the roof with a brace on his Champions League debut as we defeated Marseille 2-0, he then repeated that trick on his first appearance at the World’s greatest football tournament for his nation Brazil – and in some style.

Showing his poacher’s instinct to open the scoring for the Selecao on 62 minutes, our number nine soon doubled his side’s advantage with one of the goals of the tournament so far. Coming on 73 minutes as Serbian defenders retreated, the forward held his position on the edge of the box to receive Vinicius Jr’s stabbed cross. He then produced an exquisite first touch to hang the ball in the air before swivelling on the spot and acrobatically volleying the ball into the corner of the net to give himself and Brazil the ideal start to the competition.

Richarlison! What have you done?! 🤯#FIFAWorldCup | @richarlison97 pic.twitter.com/kCKFdlINXq

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 24, 2022

Our World Cup goalscorers

Sweden 1958

Terry Medwin - Wales 2-1 Hungary - Play-Off

Chile 1962

Jimmy Greaves - England 3-1 Argentina - Group stage

Mexico 1970

Alan Mullery and Martin Peters - England 2-3 Germany - Quarter-finals

Spain 1982

Steve Archibald - Scotland 5-2 New Zealand - Group stage

Ossie Ardiles - Argentina 4-1 Hungary - Group stage

France 1998

Allan Nielsen - Denmark 1-1 South Africa - Group stage

Jurgen Klinsmann - Germany 2-0 USA - Group stage

Jurgen Klinsmann - Germany 2-0 Iran - Group stage

Darren Anderton - England 2-0 Colombia - Group stage

Jurgen Klinsmann - Germany 2-1 Mexico - Round of 16

Korea and Japan 2002

Milenko Acimovic - Slovenia 1-3 Paraguay - Group stage

South Africa 2010

Jermain Defoe - England 1-0 Slovenia - Group stage

Brazil 2014

Jan Vertonghen - Belgium 1-0 South Korea - Group stage

Russia 2018

Harry Kane (x2) - England 2-1 Tunisia - Group stage

Harry Kane (x3) - England 6-1 Panama - Group stage

Christian Eriksen - Denmark 1-1 Australia - Group stage

Heung-Min Son - Korea Republic 1-2 Mexico - Group stage

Heung-Min Son - Korea Republic 2-0 Germany - Group stage

Harry Kane - England 1-1 Colombia - Round of 16

Jan Vertonghen - Belgium 3-2 Japan - Round of 16

Dele - England 2-0 Sweden - Quarter-finals

Kieran Trippier - England 1-2 Croatia - Semi-finals

Qatar 2022

Richarlison (x2) - Brazil 2-0 Serbia - Group stage

Harry Kane - England 3-0 Senegal - Quarter-finals

Ivan Perisic - Croatia 1-1 Japan - Quarter-finals

Richarlison - Brazil 4-1 Korea Republic