Skip to content

Late goals lighting up World Cup as Marcos Rojo and Ivan Perisic score more late winners

Argentina's Marcos Rojo celebrates his late winner against Nigeria
Image: Argentina's Marcos Rojo celebrates his late winner against Nigeria

Teams are leaving it late at the 2018 World Cup - in fact there have been more goals in the final five minutes of matches in Russia than there were in the entirety of Brazil 2014.

Marcos Rojo was the unlikely match-winner for Argentina on Tuesday night, thumping in an 86th-minute volley to send his country into the knockout stage, while Ivan Perisic's injury-time strike for Croatia against Iceland means there have now been 21 goals scored after the 85th minute.

Remarkably, 17 of those have come after the clock has ticked into the 90th minute - and with 24 out of 64 games still to come, there could yet be plenty more dramatic, last-gasp goals on the way.

Harry Kane heads England's winner during the FIFA World Cup, Group G match against Tunisia
Image: Harry Kane headed an injury-time winner for England against Tunisia

Four years ago, there were 20 goals scored in the last five minutes of the 64 games played at the Brazil World Cup.

Interestingly, the majority of the 21 late goals scored in Russia have swung the result of the match.

There have been nine winners struck, including England captain Harry Kane's header against Tunisia and Toni Kroos' free-kick for Germany against Sweden.

cristiano ronaldo during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Portugal and Spain at Fisht Stadium on June 15, 2018 in Sochi, Russia.
Image: Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo hit a late equalising free-kick against Spain

On three occasions late goals have rescued a point for teams, with the stunning free-kick from Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo against Spain one of the standout moments of the tournament so far.

Also See:

Portugal conceded a late goal themselves on Monday night against Iran, which, coupled with Spain's late leveller against Morocco, cost them top spot in Group B.

Late goals scored in Russia 2018

Player Team Opposition Minute Score before goal Final score Change
Cheryshev Russia Saudi Arabia 90 3-0 5-0 No
Golovin Russia Saudi Arabia 90 4-0 5-0 No
Gimenez Uruguay Egypt 89 0-0 1-0 Draw to win
Bouhaddouz (OG) Iran Morocco 90 0-0 1-0 Draw to win
Ronaldo Portugal Spain 88 2-3 3-3 Loss to draw
Kane England Tunisia 90 1-1 2-1 Draw to win
Krychowiak Poland Senegal 86 0-2 2-1 No
Rakitic Croatia Argentina 90 2-0 3-0 No
Shaqiri Switzerland Serbia 90 1-1 2-1 Draw to win
Coutinho Brazil Costa Rica 90 0-0 2-0 Draw to win
Neymar Brazil Costa Rica 90 1-0 2-0 No
Son South Korea Mexico 90 0-2 1-2 No
Kroos Germany Sweden 90 1-1 2-1 Draw to win
Batshuayi Belgium Tunisia 90 4-1 5-2 No
Kharzi Tunisia Belgium 90 5-1 5-2 No
Cavani Uruguay Russia 90 2-0 3-0 No
Salem Al Dawsari Saudi Arabia Egypt 90 1-1 2-1 Draw to win
Aspas Spain Morocco 90 1-2 2-2 Loss to draw
Ansarifard Iran Portugal 90 0-1 1-1 Loss to draw
Perisic Croatia Iceland 90 1-1 2-1 Draw to win
Rojo Argentina Nigeria 86 1-1 2-1 Draw to win

Around Sky