FIFA, the governing body of soccer responsible for the World Cup, has published their Top 10 goals of the 2018 tourney. In the end, a fluid French squad claimed their 2nd title in history by dressing the strongest squad on paper and playing to those strengths. But the Top 10 isn't a France retrospective, but rather a highlight reel of the most clinical strikes we bore witness to, and some we may have missed. There were after all 64 games in total, if you include the consolation match for 3rd place won by Belgium.
Slotting in at number 10 was Toni Kroos' set piece winner which curled into the short side of the goal. Although Germany eclipsed Sweden with that marker, by the end of round robin play Sweden had amassed enough points to qualify over Germany.
At number 9, Ricardo Quaresma hits the ball from distance, the ball landing in the corner of the net unattended by Iran's goalkeeper. What made the goal so brilliant was Quaresma's presence of mind to strike the ball upon his laces, technique which gave the ball both power and vertical reach.
At number 8, Nigeria's Ahmed Musa runs the full distance of the field before tricking Iceland's goalkeeper into falling to his knees. Number 7 goes to Nacer Chadli who finished a sensational team effort started by his keeper, moments after subbing into the game, his feet still cold.
Number 6 went to Denis Cheryshev for picking the corner against Croatia. His play at the 2018 World Cup reversed his reputation for the better. No FiFA list would be complete without a nod to Lionel Messi, but in all honesty his position at number 5 is merited. Lionel traps a through ball from the other half of the pitch, and cooly slots it into the opposite corner of the net, all in one motion.
Number 4 goes to Cristiano Ronaldo for scoring off a set piece in the dying moments of Portugal's tilt with rival Spain. The goal tied the game at 3-3, and saved his side points that proved invaluable by the end of round robin play. Golden Boot winner Luka Modric claimed the number 3 spot for his wonderstrike against Argentina. Watch as he switches feet a good number of times before leaving the opposition in a dizzy spell.
The runner-up position goes to Juan Quintero of Colombia for deceiving the Japanese wall off a set piece. Quintero confidently kept the ball low to the ground, effectively giving it the pace it needed to outrun the keeper's overstretched hands. And finally at number one, France's Benjamin Pavard, a relative unknown before the tournament, hits this wonder strike from 40 feet. Add a couple Ms to his release clause, because Pavard isn't going to dwell mid-table for much longer.
