Great Call - Ranking the 10 Greatest Commentary Lines in World Cup History

Great Call - Ranking the 10 Greatest Commentary Lines in World Cup History

It is quite obvious that in football the most exciting thing to watch are goals, and they can be made or ruined by the commentary. When a commentator has an unbelievable line such as Martin Tyler with the ‘“Agueroooooo” moment, it makes a goal so much better and the piece of commentary is remembered as well as the goal.

"Agueroooooooo"

Martin Tyler gifts Sergio Aguero with his famous bit of commentary one final time pic.twitter.com/FCI21FUCq2

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 23, 2021

Over the years there have been many great commentators such as John Motson, David Coleman, Barry Davies, Kenneth Wolstenholme, and of course more recently Peter Drury. They have all made the game a much nicer watch for viewers at home for many years with the way they talk through every match.

Great Call - Ranking the 10 Greatest Commentary Lines in World Cup History

10. Martin Tyler (France vs Argentina, 2018)

“The teenager takes the world stage by storm”

This great line came after Kylian Mbappe scored his second goal of the game in a match that saw France beat Argentina 4-3 in the Round of 16. He certainly did take the world by storm and is still doing to this day as he currently sits top of the golden boot race this time around.

9. Brian Moore and Kevin Keegan (England vs Argentina, 1998)

Moore: “Noy, you know him better than anybody. Do you back him to score? Quickly, yes or no?” Keegan: “Yes” Moore: “Oh and he hasn’t” Keegan: “Oh no”

This famous piece of commentary is on this list for a different reason as Brian Moore put Kevin Keegan right in it with the question and David Batty missed from the spot.

8. Peter Drury (Senegal vs Ecuador, 2022)

“Captain fantastic, Kalidou Koulibaly, the perfect response from Senegal, and the Teranga Lions roared back into second place in Group B”

This is just one example of a great poetic line from Peter Drury and he has produced many over the years.

7. Fabio Caressa (Italy vs Germany, 2006)

“Gol, Gol, Gol, Grosso, Grosso, Gol, Gol di Grosso, Gol di Grosso, Gol di Grosso!”

This is such a simple piece of commentary but it is still very effective nonetheless. Fabio Grosso put Italy in front in the Semi-Final but Fabio Caressa made the goal even better with such a straightforward line.

6. Barry Davies (England vs Argentina, 1986)

“He has Burruchaga to his left and Valdano to his left, he doesn't need, he won’t need any of them… Ohhh! You have to say that is magnificent!

Even though this isn’t the most famous moment from that night at the Azteca in Mexico, this is one of the greatest goals ever scored in football and co commentator Jimmy Hill left it all to Barry Davies to narrate.

5. David Coleman (England vs Brazil, 1970)

“Pele, What a save! Gordon Banks picked that out of the net”

There would have been no one in the stadium, including David Coleman, that would have expected Gordon Banks to be able to pull off such an incredible save against Pele and it showed in this shocked piece of commentary.

4. George Hamilton (Republic of Ireland vs Romania, 1990)

“This kick can decide it all. The nation holds its breath… Yes! We’re there!”

David O’Leary had a decisive spot kick against Romania and this incredible piece of commentary over it makes it all that bit more special for the fans to look back at.

3. Jack van Gelder (Netherlands vs Argentina, 1998)

“Dennis Bergkamp, Dennis Bergkamp, Dennis Bergkamp, Dennis Bergkamp, Dennis Bergkamp, Dennis Bergkamp! OHHHHH!”

This is without a doubt one of the most famous commentary moments in football history as you could almost feel the passion from the commentator when he speaks over an incredible goal from Dennis Bergkamp putting the ball past Carlos Roca in the Argentine net.

2. Peter Drury (Argentina vs France, 2022)

“Lionel Messi has shaken hands with paradise” “The little boy from Rosario, Sante Fe, has just pitched up in heaven. He climbs into a galaxy of his own. He has his crowning moment and of course he is not alone.”

The moment Lionel Messi finally got his hands on the Jules Rimet trophy was the moment he certified himself as the greatest player to ever play the beautiful game. And Peter Drury certainly gave him the moment he deserved with this iconic piece of commentary over it.

"Inconceivably perfect, fairy tale stuff." ✨
Even the legendary Peter Drury couldn't hold back the tears during the 2022 World Cup Final. Proof that football is so much more than just a game. 🐐🏆

#WorldCup #LionelMessi #Mbappe pic.twitter.com/zXgvpVNs7w

— CommonMan659 (@DheeraKL) July 10, 2026

1. Kenneth Wolstenholme (England vs West Germany, 1966)

“And here comes Hurst, he’s got… some people are on the pitch… they think it’s all over.. It is now! It’s four!”

Wolstenholme certainly said exactly as he saw in this moment, yet this incredibly simple form of commentary makes this moment for Three Lions fans that little bit better as his majestic voice talked through the moment England won their first World Cup.