Wildest World Cup moments in history from Gazzas fake chest to Zidanes headbutt

The football frenzy is under way and the World Cup 2026 is sure to throw up some freaky moments just as it always has.

And thats not surprising when you consider some of the eccentric characters who have played in the sport's greatest international tournament over the years. Here, James Moore has put together the ultimate A-Z of oddballs from the finals

A is for ACTING: Brazilian Rivaldo should have won an Oscar after he famously fell to the floor and writhed around clutching his face after a ball had merely hit his legs against Turkey at the 2002 World Cup. Shameful.

B is for BITING: Serial muncher Luis Saurez bit Italys Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup. The Uruguayan striker later said: I know biting appals a lot of people, but its relatively harmless.

C is for CIGGIES : USSR goalie Lev Yashin starred at World Cups between 1958-1966, despite smoking four packets of cigarettes a day and drinking vodka before games.

D is for DIETS: Italian goalie Dino Zoff, credited eating eight eggs a day as a youngster to helping win the World Cup in 1982. Norways Erling Haaland, starring at the 2026 Cup, enjoys kebab pizza.

E is for EL LOCO : Flamboyant Colombian goalie Rene Higuita, known for inventing the scorpion kick, was famed for his dangerous dribbling out into midfield, earning him the nickname Madman.

F is for FREAKY : Santiago Caizares represented Spain in goal at three World Cups, but was ruled out of the 2002 finals after glass from a smashed aftershave bottle went into his foot.

G is for GAZZA : He famously ended up in tears at the semi-final of Italia 90, but Englands Paul Gascoigne kept fans laughing with his crazy antics which included donning fake breasts.

H is for HEADBUTT : Zany Frenchman Zinedine Zidane famously saw red at the World Cup final in 2006 when he headbutted Italian midfielder Marco Materazzi in the chest. He immediately retired.

I is for INJURY: During the 1986 final against West Germany, Argentina's Jose Luis Brown dislocated his shoulder but played on, pushing a hole through his shirt to make it into a sling.

J is for JOKER : Italys madcap striker Mario Balotelli filled in the whole Italian team in his 2014 Panini sticker album with pictures of himself.

K is for KOOKY: At the 1974 World Cup, Zaires Mwepu Ilunga bizarrely sprinted out of the defensive wall before a Brazilian free-kick and booted the ball away.

L is for LIMBS : Uruguayan Hector Castro lost his right arm in a chainsaw accident. It didnt stop him scoring the winning goal in the 1930 World Cup final.

M is for MARADONA: After his controversial goal against England at the 1986 World Cup, only Argentinian maverick Diego Maradona would say it was achieved with: A little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God .

N is for NOBBY : Englands toothless 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles decided not to wear his dentures to play the match or to put his falsies back in to meet the Queen afterwards.

O is for OLDIE: Cameroons Roger Milla became the oldest player to score in World Cup finals in 1990 and then again in 1994, at 42, and was famous for his wiggle goal celebration at the corner flag.

P is for PET: As well as women and booze, Brazilian star Garrincha loved animals. He adopted a stray dog that ran on to the pitch at a 1962 World Cup match with England, calling it Jimmy Greaves.

Q is for QUIRKY : At the World Cup in 1998, the whole Romanian team weirdly dyed their hair blond for a game against Tunisia.

R is for RUMPUS: In the run up to the 2002 finals, Irelands Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy had a barmy bust-up that saw the player sensationally leave the World Cup squad.

S is for SPAT: In 1990 Dutch player Frank Rijkaard disgustingly spat into the hair of West Germanys Rudi Voller . They pair ended up scrapping, but would later star in a butter advert together.

T is for TATTOO: Chilean striker Mauricio Pinilla oddly got a tattoo picturing the moment his shot hit the crossbar in a defeat by Brazil at the 2014 tournament.

U is for URINE: At the 1990 World Cup ,Argentinas goalie Sergio Goycochea developed a superstition of weeing on the pitch during the match for good luck.

V is for VALDERRAMA: Carlos Valderrama captained Colombia in three World Cup finals in 1990, 1994 and 1998 and was famous for his trademark mop of frizzy hair.

W is for WORK: After going to the World Cup in 2010, German goalie Tim Weise took up a wrestling career. Ray Wilson, from Englands 1966 World Cup squad became an undertaker.

X is for X-RATED: After winning the 2002 World Cup, straight-talking Brazilian Ronaldo said of nookie: Both are very hard to go without, but I don't think sex could ever be as rewarding as winning the World Cup .

Y is for YIKES: At the 1938 World Cup, Italian skipper Giuseppe Meazzas stepped up to take a penalty when his shorts suddenly fell to his ankles. He calmly pulled them up and went on to score.

Z is for ZLATAN : Known for his legendary ego, Swedens Zlatan Ibrahimovi starred in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups but once said: A World Cup without me is nothing to watch.

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