From Meazza to Maradona: Football's World Cup heroes in photos

  [caption id=“attachment_1578185” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Soccer World Cup Greats since 1938. AP[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1578231” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] In this June 19, 1938 file photo, Italian soccer team perform the fascist salute before the start of the World Cup soccer final match against Hungary, in Colombes Stadium, Paris, France. On this day: Italy defended its World Cup crown, beating Hungary 4-2. The tournament took place amid the drumbeat of war. AP[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1578189” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] This is a June 18 1938 file photo Italy soccer team captain Giuseppe Meazza receives the Rimet Cup at the end of the soccer World Cup Final, in Colombes Stadium, Paris, France. Italy defeated Hungary by four goals to two in the Final. Meazza regarded by many as the greatest Italian player of all time, Meazza played in two World Cups, and Italy won both. AC Milan and Inter decided to rename their San Siro stadium after him following his death in 1979. AP[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1578191” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] This is a June 24, 1958 file photo of France’s Just Fontaine, left, as he tries to go past Brazil’s goalkeeper Gilmar tackles in their semifinal match in Stockholm. Fontaine holds a record that is unlikely to be broken anytime soon: scoring 13 goals in a single World Cup tournament. Fontaine took six games to achieve his feat at the 1958 World Cup, when he was a last-minute inclusion on the French squad. AP[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1578193” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] In this July 26, 1966 file photo, Portugal’s star player Eusebio is led from the pitch in tears after England defeated Portugal 2-1 in the semifinal of the World Cup at Wembley, London. Born into poverty in Africa, Eusebio became known as the Black Panther for his agility and hard-charging attacks. He was awarded the Ballon d’Or in 1965 and twice won the Golden Boot - in 1968 and 1973 - for being top scorer in Europe. He died in January. AP[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1578195” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] This is a July 25, 1966 file photo of Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin makes a full length dive to save from a West German free kick during the Football World Cup semi-final match at Goodison Park, Liverpool, England. Lev Yashin he only goalkeeper ever voted European Footballer of the Year helped to redefine goalkeeping, producing outstanding acrobatic saves and marshalling his defense as few had done before. AP[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1578197” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] In This June 19, 1974 file photo, Netherlands Johan Cruyff, left, dodges the tackle from Sweden’s Kent Karlsson during a World Cup soccer match in Dortmund, Germany. Cruyff never won a World Cup, never was top scorer and played only one final tournament. Yet it was more than enough to turn Johan Cruyff into a World Cup great because less than a handful of the game’s greatest stars combined beauty, speed, vision and elegance like he did. AP[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1578199” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] In this June 16, 1982 file photo, Algeria’s Lakhdar Belloumi, left, celebrates after scoring the second and winning goal for his team during the World Cup soccer match between Algeria and West Germany in Gijon, Spain. On this day: Algeria beats West Germany 2-1 in one of the great upsets in World Cup history. AP[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1578201” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] In this July 11, 1982 file photo, Italian team captain and goalkeeper Dino Zoff, is raised aloft by his teammates while holding the World Cup in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, in Madrid, after Italy defeated West Germany 3-1 in the World Cup final soccer match. On this day: After a 44 year interval Italy finally wins its third World Cup. AP[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1578203” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] In this July 5, 1982 file photo, Italy’s Paolo Rossi, left, celebrates, after scoring the second goal for his team during their World Cup match second round soccer match against Brazil, in Barcelona, Spain. Brazilian goalkeeper Valdir Perez, lies on pitch as defender Junior runs at right. On this day: Italy beats Brazil 3-2 in a classic World Cup match to progress to the semifinals. AP[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1578205” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] In this June 22, 1986 file photo, Argentina’s Diego Maradona, second left, is about to score his second goal against England, during their World Cup quarter final soccer match, in Mexico City, Mexico. England’s Terry Butcher, left, tries to tackle Maradona, while England’s goalkeeper Peter Shilton is on the ground. On this day: Maradona scores what many consider to be the greatest individual goal scored in World Cup history, helping Argentina see off England 2-1. AP[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1578209” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] In this June 21, 1970 file photo, Brazil’s Pele is hoisted on shoulders of his teammates after Brazil won the World Cup final against Italy, 4-1, in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca. Pele Considered by many the greatest player in football history, Pele won three World Cup titles with Brazil. He was a teenager when he helped the “Selecao” lift the trophy in 1958, then four years later he won the title again despite playing only one match because of an injury. Pele’s career was at its peak when he led Brazil to victory in 1970. He remains the only player to win three World Cup titles. AP[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1578211” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] In this July 7, 1974 file photo, West Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer, holds up the World Cup trophy after they defeated the Netherlands 2-1 in the World Cup soccer final at Munich’s Olympic stadium in Germany.  Beckenbauer won every club honor with Bayern Munich, including three straight Champions Cup titles, and is the only man to captain (in 1974) and coach (1990) a team to the World Cup title. Beckenbauer made 103 appearances for Germany and is considered the football power’s best player of all time. AP[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1578213” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] This is a June 29, 1986 file photo of Diego Maradona of Argentina celebrates with the cup at the end of the World Cup soccer final in the Atzeca Stadium, in Mexico City, Mexico. Argentina defeated West Germany 3-2 to take the trophy. Maradona One the greatest playmakers of all time, Maradona was joint FIFA Player of the 20th Century with Pele. “El Pibe de Oro” inspired Argentina to victory in the 1986 tournament. AP[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1578215” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] In this June 30, 2002, file photo, Brazil’s Ronaldo reacts after scoring past Germany’s goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, center, and Carsten Ramelow during the 2002 World Cup final soccer match at the Yokohama stadium in Yokohama, Japan. Ronaldo the striker is the most prolific scorer in World Cups with 15 goals. He was a youngster in the Brazilian squad that won the 1994 World Cup, then helped Brazil reach the final both in 1998 and 2002. AP[/caption]