GAFFERThe best World Cup squads ever
The World Cup distils a nation's golden generation into a single month. These are the squads most often called the greatest of all time — useful inspiration when you draft a national side in Gaffer XI's World Cup mode, which spans every tournament from 1998 to 2026 plus an all-time mixed mode.
Brazil 1970
The benchmark. With Pelé at his peak alongside Jairzinho, Tostão, Gérson and the captain Carlos Alberto — scorer of one of the most famous goals ever in the final — Brazil won all six matches in Mexico playing joyful, attacking football. Many still rank this as the finest team the sport has produced.
West Germany 1974
Franz Beckenbauer redefined the sweeper role, turning defence into the start of every attack, while Gerd Müller was a ruthless penalty-box finisher. On home soil they beat the brilliant Dutch side of Cruyff in the final — a clash of two footballing philosophies that still gets debated today.
Argentina 1986
Effectively a one-man tournament from Diego Maradona, who dragged a solid-but-unspectacular squad to the title with a series of decisive moments — including the two contrasting goals against England that captured everything about him. Proof that a single transcendent player can win a World Cup.
France 1998 & 2000
A golden generation marshalled by Zinedine Zidane, with a formidable defence (Thuram, Blanc, Desailly, Lizarazu) and Marcel Desailly's authority in midfield. France won the 1998 World Cup at home and followed it with Euro 2000 — back-to-back major titles that mark them as one of the great tournament sides.
Spain 2008–2012
Spain took Barcelona's possession game to the international stage and won three major tournaments in a row (Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, Euro 2012) — a feat no other nation has managed. Xavi and Iniesta ran games, and a patient, ball-dominant style ground opponents down. The 2012 final, a 4-0 win, was the era's exclamation mark.
Brazil 2002
The attacking "three R's" — Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho — gave Brazil a front line no defence could fully contain. Ronaldo's redemption story, scoring eight goals after years of injury, carried them to a fifth world title.
What makes a great tournament team
- A match-winner. Almost every great squad had one player who could decide a knockout on his own.
- Defensive solidity. You don't win seven games in a month by outscoring everyone — clean sheets win tournaments.
- A controlling midfield. From Gérson to Zidane to Xavi, the best sides owned the middle of the pitch.
Drafting a World Cup winner in Gaffer XI
In Gaffer XI's World Cup mode you draft a national side and play through groups and knockouts. The same principles apply: secure your spine first, value defence as highly as attack, and make sure you have at least one true match-winner up front. Our balanced XI guide and formations guide cover how to turn that into picks.
Play the World Cup mode, or read about the greatest club teams ever.