2018 World Cup - Top 10 Moments 

It's been a week since the World Cup final, which has given fans plenty of time to sit down and reflect on the past month of non-stop football.

We’ve had goals galore, some absolute screamers, last-minute drama, favorites disappointing, underdogs creating history and everything in between. It's been a truly historic World Cup with some great moments.

So let's reflect on those moments and look back at the top 10 moments from the 2018 World Cup.

10. Russia serve an opening day thrashing

Russian football was in a bit of a mess before the World Cup. Russia entered the tournament on a 6 game winless run, losing 5 and drawing 1. They also entered the tournament as the lowest ranked side in the FIFA world rankings becoming the first host nation to do so.

Not much was expected from Russia, even by their own fans. But it only took 90 minutes to wash away all the despair that built up in the last few years. 90 minutes was all it took to change the mood of Russian football.

Russia opened the tournament against Saudi Arabia. After just 12 minutes, Yury Gazinsky put the hosts in front. Starman Alan Dzagoev came off with an injury shortly after to dampen the mood a bit but that didn't last long as his replacement Denis Cheryshev, who barely made the squad, scored just before halftime to make in 2-0.

Artem Dzyuba added in the 71st minute before Cheryshev scored his second of the game with a screamer. Russia’s breakout star Aleksandr Golovin scored a sublime freekick to complete the rout.

5-0. Russia put all shouts before the tournament that they were going to be the worst host nation ever behind them. A nation entered the World Cup expecting nothing but left it proud and excited for the future.

9. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Hattrick

The majority of the Portuguese side that shocked the world and won the 2016 Euros traveled to Russia. Cristiano Ronaldo had just completed another awe-inspiring campaign and like always the weight of a nation rested on this shoulders. Their opening game was against one of the pre-tournament favorites Spain.

Portugal got off to the perfect start as Ronaldo wins and puts away a penalty just 4 minutes in. 20 minutes later Diego Costa pulls Spain level before Ronaldo strikes again just before halftime.

Another Costa goal and a stunning volley from Ronaldo’s Real Madrid teammate Nacho put Spain in front. At this point, Spain is in full control of the game and Portugal are getting very little of the ball.

But in the 88th minute, Portugal won a free kick at the edge of the area. There was no way anyone other than Ronaldo was stepping up to it. As he takes a few steps back and a deep breath, you know either two things are about to happen. He hits this over row Z or tucks it into the top corner. And what do you know, the man curls it in the top corner to make it 3-3.

Just as he does so often when his side needs him the most, he pulls an absolute rabbit out of the hat. Ronaldo has somehow done it again and just for a moment, you thought maybe, just maybe Portugal can shock the world again, but this time on the grandest stage. A nation's hero has put the whole country on his back once again.

8. South Korea shock the Champions

Germany has had a nightmare of a World Cup. But all they need to do is defeat little South Korea to progress to the Round of 16. Joachim Löw has made some shock changes for this game, leaving out German mainstays like Mesut Özil and Thomas Müller.

Germany has had plenty of chances to make the breakthrough but its still level. Mats Hummels, in particular, has had a few good headers go just wide. The Germans are knocking on the door. But as time goes by you feel like maybe it’ll happen.

Maybe for the first time ever, Germany will not make it out of their group. Sweden has won their game against Mexico 3-0, so all Germany needs to do is score a goal. But deep into stoppage time chaos occurs.

South Korea take the lead via Kim Young-Gwon, but as he reels away in celebration the linesman calls it offside. VAR supplied the World Cup with some crazy moments and this might top the bunch. After checking, the referee awards South Korea the goal.

The Koreans are on the verge of one of their greatest ever World Cup wins. Germany still continues to press on afterward. Manuel Neuer has the ball deep in South Korea's half before being dispossessed by Ju Se-jong who launches the ball forward to Son Heung-min. He slots it into the empty net to seal Germany's faith.

Germany had 28 shots but to no avail. For the first time ever, Germany will not be making it past the group stage.

7. Toni Kroos gives Germany some hope

A few days earlier though, things were much more joyful for Germany. After their shock loss to Mexico, the Germans had to win against Sweden to stay alive. But Germany struggled and just after the half-hour mark, Sweden were the ones who broke the deadlock after Toni Kroos gave the ball away.

Things had to change in the second half so Joachim Löw brought on Mario Gómez and shifted Timo Werner out wide. The two combined to set up Marco Reus for the equalizer. Germany pressed on but still couldn't find a winner.

A Jérôme Boateng red card late in the game made the task even harder. But again Werner caused havoc on the left wing and won a free kick from a decent crossing position. Kroos, who has had a terrible World Cup so far, steps up to take it with Reus just in front of him. He lays it off to the winger who stops the ball and then Kroos runs up to it striking the ball so sweetly that it curls in the top corner.

All Sweden can do is look in amazement at what they just witnessed. Kroos with a single strike in the 95th minute has kept the champions alive. It may not have come to much in the end, but at that moment you could feel that one goal would change the entire tournament.

6. Belgium win it at the death

Belgium's golden generation failed to live up to their high expectations, but after scoring a tournament high of 9 goals in the group stages, they looked to finally break out of their shell. Japan wasn't fancied to make it out of their group, but there they were against heavy favorites Belgium.

The score is 0-0 at halftime, but Belgium are playing some great football and the opener was coming soon. No one expected it to come from Japan. Just 3 minutes after the break, Genki Haraguchi gives Japan the lead and before anyone has time to take in what just happened Takashi Inui doubles their lead. And just like that Belgium's golden generation look like their old selves, the same side that lost to Wales at the Euros two years ago.

In the 65th minute, Roberto Martínez brings on Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli. A lucky Jan Vertonghen header a few minutes later pulls one back and of course, in the 74th minute, of all people, Fellaini gets on the end of an Eden Hazard cross and heads it home. All of a sudden Belgium are back in it.

With about a minute left, Keisuke Honda strikes a free kick from what seemed like 40 yards out and it almost goes in but Thibaut Courtois tips it away for a corner. With seconds remaining on the clock, bafflingly, Japan sends a normal amount of players forward. Courtois catches the ball and the counter is on. A few seconds later, with the last kick of the game, Chadli makes it 3-2.

Heartbreak for the Japanese, but a brilliant goal from Belgium. In 14 seconds the ball went from Courtois’ hands to the back of the Japanese net and Belgium avoid what would have been the final nail in the coffin of the golden generation.

5. England finally win on penalties

In the lead up to England's round of 16 clash with Columbia, all the talk was about penalties. Penalties have haunted England for decades, and no one knows that better than manager Gareth Southgate who missed a penalty against Germany at the Euro 1996 semi-final.

The clash with the South American side was a rough and dirty one with tackles flying in everywhere. In total, there were 36 fouls and 8 yellow cards. A Harry Kane penalty puts England in front and just as it seemed like they would progress to the quarterfinals Yerry Mina rose above everyone in the added time to head home a corner, scoring his 3rd goal of the tournament.

A goalless extra time followed and with all the pre-match build-up being about penalties it was inevitable that that's how the match was going to be decided. The score was 3-2 Colombia when Jordan Henderson’s penalty was saved and that feeling of defeat and heartbreak starts to creep back into English minds, but Colombia misses their next two penalties.

Then steps up Eric Dier. All he needs to do is score and he’ll make English history, finally breaking the curse, and he does. After decades of heartbreak, disappointment, and failure England have finally won on penalties.

This young English side doesn't have the burden and stress of the shootout like previous generations. The final hurdle has finally been jumped and it took England’s youngest ever World Cup squad, with England’s youngest ever World Cup captain to do so.

4. Mario Mandžukić makes history

England and Croatia defied the odds to get to this point, but sadly only one would play in the biggest game in football.

For England, it was a chance to finally right the many wrongs of years gone by and win the World Cup for the first time since 1966. For Croatia, it was a chance to finally break through the shadow of 1998.

The game started off with a bang as Kieran Trippier scored a freekick in the opening 5 minutes, but that was as good as it got for the English. As the game went by, Croatia dominated more. England was lucky to stay ahead going into halftime, but their luck was soon about to run out.

Ivan Perišić beautifully steered home a cross on the volley to make it 1-1. Croatia continued to create chances but England hung in, until the second half of extra time.

With penalties looming, both sides would have fancied themselves. But in the 109th minute, a lapse in concentration allowed Mario Mandžukić to score. They had just created history. Little Croatia was off to the World Cup final.

They have not only matched what the 1998 team did, but they surpassed them, forever writing their names in Croatian football history.

3. Kylian Mbappe announces himself to the world

After struggling in the group stage, Argentina made it out by the skin of their teeth. But they faced off against heavy favorites France. A truly magical performance from Lionel Messi was needed if the South American side had any hope of progressing. The game did see a magical performance, but it wasn't from Messi.

Kylian Mbappé for two years now has been one of the worlds brightest talents. During this tournament, Mbappé made himself a household name and put the whole world on notice and this game against Argentina was the highlight of his World Cup.

Just over 10 minutes and Mbappé’s blistering pace was already on display. He ran right through the Argentine defense, only being able to stop him by committing a foul and conceding a penalty, which Antoine Griezmann tucked away.

With the composer of someone 10 years elder to him, Mbappé got the ball in a clustered box and brilliantly took it under control, shifting it onto his left foot to give himself a yard of space and put it past Franco Armani.

And it only took him 4 minutes to add another. On the counter, his pace was too much to handle and a great ball from Olivier Giroud was finished off neatly. Sergio Agüero’s late goal wasn't enough to undo all the great work France and Mbappé had done.

The 19-year-old's unmatched pace and smooth dribbling ability were too much for Argentina as he torn them to shreds again and again. When the stage was set for one star to shine, another crashed the stage and took over the show.

2. Messi And Ronaldo bow out on the same day

Mbappé’s master class meant that Messi will most likely end his illustrious career without a World Cup. The one thing that many said he needed to win to be considered the greatest ever will mostly forever evade him.

And this loss could also be his last ever World Cup game, if not his last game for Argentina period. Another icon suffered the same faith just a few hours later. The man who for the last decade Messi has shared the title of best in the world with, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Portugal fell to Edinson Cavani’s brace as Uruguay went through. Both Ronaldo and Messi have been joined at the hip for ten years now and it's only destiny that both their World Cup careers end on the same day.

12 years ago in Germany, Messi scored his first ever World Cup goal on June 16th. The very next day Ronaldo scored his ever first World Cup goal. Both their World Cup careers started hours apart together and both will end hours apart together.

They have dominated football for a decade. Two legends of the game who won everything there is to win at club level, but both will end their careers without holding football's greatest prize and both their dreams ended just hours apart.

1. Allez Les Bleus

The 2018 World Cup's greatest moment is its last. France wins their second ever World Cup. Since their last final in 2006, it's been a crazy ride for France. They crashed out of Euro 2008 in the group stage finishing last.

Then they left the 2010 World Cup in disgrace. Then after only winning one game in their group at Euro 2012, they cashed out in the quarterfinals against eventual winners Spain.

But after this things started to get much better. 4 years ago in Brazil, they went undefeated in their group stage before narrowly losing to Germany in the quarters.

And as the host at Euro 2016, they were so close to winning it all, just losing out in the final to a Portugal extra time goal. France has hit rock bottom since their last World Cup final, but now they have reached the pinnacle of football once again.

France was the best team in Russia and got what they deserved. Players like Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé, N'Golo Kanté and Raphaël Varane shone on the biggest stage while manager Didier Deschamps entered the tournament with his fair share of critics and even during the tournament some of this decisions were questioned, but those decisions paid off.

12 years of heartbreak, disappointment, embarrassment and nearly moments were all of a sudden forgotten. 20 years after their finest moment, France has again won the greatest prize in world football. Allez Les Bleus!