All 23 World Cups ranked: Ronaldo’s redemption, Maradona’s mastery and underdogs Italy

The Athletic's Michael Cox ranks all 23 FIFA World Cups from 1930 to 2026, assessing which tournament deserves the title of greatest ever. The article begins with the lowest-ranked editions: 1938 (Italy retains crown amid pre-WWII tensions), 1934 (Italy wins with alleged Mussolini influence), 1930 (inaugural tournament with primitive football and only 13 teams), and 1962 (Brazil wins but lacks legendary matches, with Garrincha shining after Pele's injury). The ranking aims to contextualize the 2026 edition, which some have called the best ever, by evaluating historical quality, memorable matches, standout players, and political contexts.

First published Aug 4, 01:55 PM UTCUpdated Jul 23, 04:08 AM UTC1 reports · 1 sources

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All 23 World Cups ranked: Ronaldo’s redemption, Maradona’s mastery and underdogs Italy

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All 23 World Cups ranked: Ronaldo’s redemption, Maradona’s mastery and underdogs ItalySoccer - The AthleticWesternJul 23, 04:08 AM UTC

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