World Cup Final Winning Goalscorers and the Boots They Wore: 1990 to 2014

Every footballer dreams of scoring the winning goal in a World Cup final. Only a handful of players have achieved that feat since 1990. This article looks back at the decisive goals, the players who scored them, and the boots they wore on that historic day.

1990 – Andreas Brehme (adidas)

Stepping up instead of Lothar Matthäus, who was missing a stud in his boot, Andreas Brehme scored the winning goal from the penalty spot. He wore the traditional adidas Copa Mundial, a boot that defined the era and played a pivotal role in one of international soccer’s most memorable moments.

1994 – Penalty Shootout

Hosted in the United States, the 1994 final went to penalties, with Brazil defeating Italy. While no single winning goalscorer emerged from open play, the Roberto Baggio penalty miss remains one of the most iconic images of the tournament.

1998 – Zinedine Zidane (adidas)

France won 3–0, with Zidane scoring the first and second goals. He wore a pair of adidas Predator Accelerator, widely regarded as one of the best Predator releases. A special remake of this boot was later produced.

2002 – Ronaldo (Nike)

Ronaldo wore the Nike Mercurial Vapor I in Chrome/Lime during the 2002 final. Considered one of the first speed-specific boots, the distinctive design remains instantly recognisable. Remakes of this signature boot have been released since.

2006 – Penalty Shootout

Italy beat France on penalties after a 1–1 draw. The match is often remembered for Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt on Marco Materazzi, rather than a single winning goal in open play.

2010 – Andrés Iniesta (Nike)

Iniesta scored the decisive goal against the Netherlands in the second half of extra time on 11 July 2010. He wore the Nike CTR360 Maestri, part of the World Cup Elite series. The boot was easy to identify thanks to the Mach Violet and Total Orange colourway.

2014 – Mario Götze (Nike)

Mario Götze came off the bench in a goalless final and scored a stunning volley to win the trophy for Germany. He wore the Nike Magista Obra. Götze never cleaned the boots; his left boot – which struck the winning goal – was later auctioned for €2 million, with proceeds donated to the German charity A Heart for Children.

2018 – Awaiting the Winner

The 2018 World Cup final would add a new name to this list. At the time, adidas, Nike, and Puma all had top goalscoring candidates such as Griezmann, Giroud, and Agüero. The identity of the winning goalscorer and the brand of boots he wore would be decided on the pitch.

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