Franz Beckenbauer (1945–2024), German soccer legend 

Franz Beckenbauer was a German soccer legend who won World Cups both as a player and as a coach.

Pelé (1940–2022), soccer icon

Pelé was a Brazilian soccer player considered by most to be the greatest of all time.

Grant Wahl (1973–2022), acclaimed writer for Sports Illustrated

Grant Wahl was a sportswriter who focused on college basketball and soccer, including covering the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Diego Maradona (1960–2020), soccer legend

Diego Maradona was one of the greatest soccer players of all time, leading Argentina to a World Cup win in 1986.

Gordon Banks (1937–2019), England’s 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper

Made “save of the century” against the legendary Pele.

Walter Bahr (1927–2018), World Cup hero

Last surviving member of the U.S. team that upset England in the 1950 World Cup.

Tony DiCicco (1948–2017), U.S. women's national soccer team coach

Former U.S. women's soccer coach guided team to 1999 World Cup win.

Raymond Kopa (1931–2017)

Former soccer star made legendary plays with France and Real Madrid.

Carlos Alberto Torres (1944–2016), Brazilian soccer legend

Captain of Brazil's national soccer team when it won the 1970 World Cup.

Garrincha: Joy of the People

Ask a Brazilian who is the greatest soccer player ever, and you're likely to hear not about Pelé, but his contemporary Garrincha.

Nathan Henn, Volunteer Killed in Uganda

American aid worker Nathan Henn was among the 74 killed by twin bombings in Uganda, the blasts targeting crowds gathered to watch the World Cup final on TV.

George Best: The Best to Never Play the Game

We take a look back at perhaps the best football player never to win the World Cup. In fact, he never even played in the tournament.