2026 FIFA World Cup Countdown - Day 10: Marco Tardelli and the Art of Catharsis

90 Days to Go: Tardelli and the Scream Heard Around the World

Celebrations these days are seen as a chance to show off – backflips, tricky hand gestures and competitions over who can do the furthest knee slides are an everyday occurrence in the modern footballing sphere.

Back in the olden days, celebrations were far less intricate. More often than not, the scoring team would pick the ball out of the net and carry it straight back to the centre circle, eager to get the game underway again.

But every now and then, the scorer would get creative and come up with a celebration that echoed through history: Roger Milla’s iconic corner-flag celebration, Paul Gascoigne’s dentist chair, and Bebeto’s arms rocking an imaginary baby to sleep – all of them were unique and innovative at the time and have even lasted the test of time to be used in the present day.

However, the most relatable celebrations and, moreover, the ones that echo the loudest throughout history are the celebrations driven by pure, unplanned, raw emotion, with the most famous example coming in the final of the 1982 World Cup against West Germany, courtesy of Marco Tardelli.

Marco Tardelli, Juventus #Juventus #Juve pic.twitter.com/U1keo2tsRG

— Football Memories (@footballmemorys) March 1, 2026

Avenging Defeat

By the time the 1982 World Cup arrived, it had been 12 years since Italy had last competed in the tournament's showpiece game and a remarkable 44 years since they had last lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy, having beaten Hungary in the 1938 final.

The Azzurri reached the semi-finals of the 1978 edition four years previously but were defeated by a stirring Netherlands comeback, sealed with an Arends Haan finish 15 minutes from time. Part of the starting XI that day, Tardelli knew better than most what it felt like to come so close and be defeated.

It was clear at the start of the 1982 tournament in Spain that the Italians were still carrying the agonising weight of their semi-final defeat on their backs, and their early performances spoke of a side who were questioning whether they would ever return to the pinnacle of world football, drawing all three Group 1 games against Poland, Peru and Cameroon.

Finishing level on points with Cameroon, they were fortunate to even reach the next round, only pipping the African side to the post thanks to scoring one extra goal. Nevertheless, they eked their way into the next round, which, unlike the tournament today, saw them put into another group stage alongside the South American pairing of Argentina and Brazil – Italy were well and truly in the big time now.

Argentina had won the World Cup four years previously, while Brazil had conquered Italy the last time the Azzurri contested a final – it's safe to say there was history, and going off group stage form, Italy were the weakest link.

However, what happened next shocked everyone – Enzo Bearzot got his team playing like genuine World Cup contenders.

Sending a Message

Their first game against Argentina was expected to be a routine win for the reigning world champions – Italy won 2-1, courtesy of two second-half goals in 10 minutes from Tardelli and Antonio Cabrini. It was the first hint that Italy was making a play for the trophy, despite being far from favourites prior to the tournament.

Then, faced with a Brazil side that featured the likes of Zico and Socrates, Italy striker Paolo Rossi had a day to remember, netting a stunning hat trick to cancel out goals from Socrates and Falcão and nabbing a surprising 3-2 win, topping their group in the process.

The Azzurri had somehow beaten two of world football’s most powerful nations to reach the semi-finals, knocking both of them out in the process, which was seen as a gargantuan shock at the time, as it would be today.

🇧🇷 2-3🇮🇹 (#Rossi 5', 25', 74') #OTD, 🇪🇸 1982. Remember how Italy's resolve undid one of the greatest sides?

Pablito: A legend was born 💙 pic.twitter.com/BHbPPwLRTe

— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) July 5, 2017

However, in the semi-finals, they were drawn against the only side in the tournament that had blunted their attack so far – Poland. Italy’s fellow Europeans had limited them to a low-key 0-0 draw in their opening game of the tournament.

On this occasion, though, Rossi had discovered a taste for goals and bagged himself a brace to book Italy’s spot in the final two, going joint top of the tournament's golden boot standings in the process.

But ahead of them lay their biggest test yet – West Germany had beaten England and Spain in their own second group stage and had then bested France in a semi-final penalty shootout to join Italy in the final. Champions of eight years prior and regular visitors to the final, Die Mannschaft were carrying nothing into the final compared to Italy’s baggage of Spain 78.

The Scream Heard Around the World

The two teams were exceptionally evenly matched, a fact underlined by the 0-0 draw the two had played out at the previous World Cup. However, four years later, the stakes were completely different – Italy were avenging an agonising semi-final defeat, while West Germany were looking to match their performance from 1978.

The BBC coverage before the 1982 World Cup final between Italy and West Germany.

You don't get presenters and pundits like these today.pic.twitter.com/lSyybHV2hu

— Retro Football Network (@retrofootballnw) March 11, 2026

The first half played out as many would have expected: cagey, edgy and full of nerves. Italy were awarded a penalty, but Cabrini fired wide, spurring what could be Italy’s best chance to find the net against one of their main European rivals.

Half-time came and went, and everyone was on edge – someone had to lift the trophy, but no one was brave enough to predict who it would be.

Eventually, it was the man on fire, Marco Rossi, who broke the deadlock, delicately nodding home a bobbling, bouncing Claudio Gentile cross to give Italy a narrow lead. However, if Italy had learnt anything from 1978, it was that a one-goal lead is far from safe – as such, tensions remained close to breaking point.

What Italy needed was another goal, and 12 minutes after Rossi’s opener, it became Tardelli’s moment. In acres of space, right back Giuseppe Bergomi was allowed time to pull it back to the edge of the West Germany box to the waiting Tardelli.

The midfielder took one touch to his left and absolutely whacked it with his left peg, slipping as he did so. If anything, the slip aided the strike, becoming unpredictable in the air and leaving German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher stranded as it soared into the bottom corner.

🌎🏆 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN

Day 10/100: Tardelli's Cry Heard Around the World

The World Cup Final, 1982. Italy, looking to win their first since 1938, and West Germany, looking to repeat their success of 8 years previously.

The Azzurri had shocked the world once by… pic.twitter.com/xYW2XMZpS3

— Football Park (@FP_CentreCircle) March 13, 2026

As soon as it hit the back of the net, Tardelli was off sprinting towards the Italian touchline with fists outstretched and shaking rapidly; the Juventus man let out a primordial, animal scream, embodying the moment absolutely perfectly. How do you expect someone to react when they have potentially won their country a World Cup trophy?

Eventually reaching the touchline, he was engulfed by teammates and staff members, rendering any further view of his celebrations impossible, but everyone had seen enough. Tardelli’s innately human reaction made every newspaper the next day as, courtesy of a third goal from Alessandro Altobeni, Italy lifted the World Cup, despite a late Paul Breitner consolation for West Germany.

Paulo Rossi won the golden boot with his six goals (with all of them coming in the final three games), and all of Italy celebrated for days on end, but when the fog cleared, it was Tardelli who emerged as the lasting hero from their victorious campaign.

Iconic striker Paolo Rossi's goals led Italy to victory at the 1982 World Cup. He scored six times to win the Golden Boot, including the opener in the final against West Germany. His standout performances also earned him the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. pic.twitter.com/cImmS0LbpG

— The Extreme Football Enthusiast (@ExtremeFootbal4) March 2, 2026

His immediate reaction to the goal was relatable to anyone who had ever dreamed of becoming a professional footballer – scoring on the biggest stage of all is what it is all about, and after the pain of four years earlier, it would have tasted all the sweeter.

Tardelli’s celebration has become so iconic that it was actually voted the fourth best World Cup moment back in 2014 by the BBC, with the celebration well-known to anyone who has any knowledge of football lore. Later on, Tardelli candidly reflected on the goal and described what went through his mind as the ball hit the back of the net.

"After I scored, my whole life passed before me – the same feeling they say you have before you are about to die, the joy of scoring in a World Cup final was immense, something I dreamt about as a kid, and my celebration was a release after realising that dream. I was born with that scream inside me; that was just the moment it came out."

Perhaps we could have saved this moment for later on, but seeing as we are not doing it in any particular order, there is no harm in digging up the past now. Regardless of where it fits on the list, Tardelli’s wild-eyed goal celebration has gone down in history as one of the most recognised in football history, making it more than deserving of its inclusion.