From the 'Battle of Nuremberg' to Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God,' the World Cup has seen some of the most controversial moments in sports

The FIFA World Cup has been going on for 96 years and is one of the most-watched sporting events worldwide, so it's no surprise that the tournament has provided some of the most jaw-dropping moments in sports history.

Played every four years, the World Cup is an opportunity for countries across the globe to bring their best players to the field and duke it out for the title of best soccer team on the planet. And while we have witnessed unforgettable moments of great sportsmanship, unbelievable comebacks and well-earned victories, the World Cup has also been the site of plenty of fights, controversial calls and in some cases, life-altering incidents off the field.

As the highly-anticipated tournament kicks off today, see some of the most talked about moments in the history of the FIFA World Cup, below.

01 of 10

Andres Escobar's Fatal Own Goal

In perhaps one of the saddest moments in World Cup history, Colombian defender Andrés Escobar was gunned down in his home country after a game-defining mistake during the soccer team's match-up against the USA in 1994.

Coming into the game, Colombia needed to beat the U.S. in order to stay in the tournament, as they had just been defeated 3-1 by Romania. During minute 35, the U.S. kicked a ball headed straight into the Colombian goal post. In an attempt to clear it, Escobar accidentally pedaled it further, scoring an own goal. The mistake would cost the team, and Colombia was eliminated 2-1.

Escobar was warned not to return to Colombia for a while due to fears for his safety at a particularly violent time, but having offered his apologies, he returned home and believed he would be fine. However, while out at a nightclub with friends on July 1, 1994, famed cartel leaders the Gallon brothers — who had reportedly lost money after betting on Colombia — and their bodyguard Humberto Castro Muñoz, confronted Escobar while he was in his car. The altercation escalated, and Escobar was shot six times, with Muñoz reportedly shouting "goal!" after each shot.

Muñoz was arrested after confessing to the murder. He was sentenced to 43 years in prison but was released after 11.

02 of 10

Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God'

It only took six minutes for all hell to break lose during Argentina and England's match-up in the quarterfinals in 1986.

After a tussle which left Argentina's Jorge Valdano surrounded by England's defenders, English midfielder Steve Hodge kicked the ball toward their keeper, Peter Shilton, in an effort to save the play. Famed midfielder Diego Maradona of Argentina then went head-to-head with Shilton, but accidentally tipped the ball into the post with his outstretched left hand.

Because using your hands is barred from soccer, England was expecting the goal to be ruled null. That didn't happen as the referee didn't pick up on Maradona's hand touching the ball. Argentina would go on to beat England 2-1, and would win the World Cup that year.

At a post-game conference, Maradona told reporters Argentina won the game "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God."

03 of 10

Luis Suárez's Controversial Handball

Maradona's "hand of god" moment almost pales in comparison to Luis Suarez's similar play in the 2010 quarterfinals.

Uruguay and Ghana were locked at 1-1 in a tense face-off that had already gone to overtime. Dominic Adiyiah headed a ball that was sure to make Ghana the first African country to reach a World Cup semi-final. The ball seemed to be a winner, until Suarez, who was stationed in the goal post, swatted it with his hands.

As this was an illegal play, Suarez was given a red card and ejected from the game. Ghana was then awarded a penalty, which Asamoah Gyan missed and the game went into a penalty shootout. Uruguay would secure a 4-2 win and advance.

Asked if he regretted the play, Suarez stood by his actions telling reporters post-game, "Mine is the real 'Hand of God.' I made the save of the tournament.”

04 of 10

Zinedine Zidane Headbutts Marco Matterazzi

Professional athletes are no stranger to some trash talk on the field.

However, Zinedine Zidane showed a person can only take so much during a 2006 final game against Italy. In the 110th minute of extra time, Zidane, who was the captain of the French team, was red carded and ejected from the game after head butting Italian defender Marco Matterazzi in the chest.

Though it was widely believed Matterazzi had provoked Zizou (as he was popularly known) by saying something about his mother, Matterazzi later revealed, "What I said was in reference to his sister, not his mother, like I have read in some newspapers. My mother died when I was a teenager, when I was 15, so I would never have stooped as low as to insult his mother."

Italy would beat France 5-3 in penalty shootouts and the match was Zidane's last as a professional player. He retired shortly after.

05 of 10

The French Team Goes on Strike

The World Cup is always high stakes and high emotions. When everyone is on the same page, that energy can drive success. If not, you can end up with total team chaos, as the French team found out in 2010.

Coach Raymond Domenench replaced Nicolas Anelka during the team's losing match-up against Mexico in game two. The decision exasperated tensions that had already been running high within the camp and the loss didn't help.

It was later discovered the switch was because Anelka had gotten into a screaming match with Domenech at halftime. Though the Fédération Française de Football (FFF) president urged Anekla to apologize, he refused and was sent home the following day.

In an act of solidarity, his teammates refused to participate in a public training session, leading to yet another row between captain Patrice Evra and the team's fitness coach, Robert Duverne.

Les Blues would eventually take the field again, but failed to work past their differences. They fell to South Africa 2-1 and finished at the bottom of their group.

06 of 10

Harald Schumacher Knocks Out Patrick Battiston

While it is considered one of the greatest games in World Cup history, West Germany's tense face-off against France in 1982 is also remembered as the event where one of the most harrowing incidents took place.

French defender Patrick Battiston was tapped in as a substitute. Ten minutes into his playtime, he was being carried away in a stretcher. While chasing a through on goal, Battison collided with West Germany's goalie, Harald Schumacher, resulting in the loss of two front teeth, broken ribs, back damage and a temporary coma.

Making matters worse, it appeared Schumacher wasn't fazed by the harrowing collision; he stood on the other end of the field, doing keep ups while Battiston was undergoing medical treatment.

Years later, Schumacher would admit he could have handled the moment better. "I regret not having looked after Patrick when he was on the ground," he said while on the French radio station, RMC in 2014, per ESPN. "I also regret not having gone to the hospital to visit him."

"I did eventually apologize to Patrick, and he accepted it," the retired goalkeeper revealed. "This story should have ended in 1982, but it's part of my life and I live with it."

07 of 10

Mwepu Ilunga's Bizarre Kick Away

Back in 1974, Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, was the first sub-Saharan African nation to play in the World Cup. Things, however, were not going so well for the team. After losing 9-0 to Yugoslavia, and 2-0 to Scotland, the country’s dictator, President Mobutu, reportedly threatened that if they lost to Brazil by more than four goals, they wouldn't be allowed to return home. The players had also discovered that corrupt officials were planning on taking their prize money.

In a moment that left everyone scratching their heads, Zaire's Mwepu Ilunga broke from the defensive wall as Brazil was getting ready to make a free kick during their match. The kick was not only to waste time, but also to attempt to provoke the referee into giving him a red card.

"We were really unhappy," Ilunga told L'Équipe, per ESPN. "We had just spent two months far from our families, without anyone by our side. There weren't the same forms of communication as there are today. And they take our money? You don't do that."

Ilunga also hoped to annoy the Brazilian team, whom he says were making provocative remarks, but the primary motivation was to be ejected.

"It was also an opportunity that I took to provoke the referee. I wanted him to give me a red card," the soccer star said. "I said to myself: 'I'm not playing anymore. Why would I stay on the field and take the risk of not returning home when the others — the people who took our money — are watching us peacefully from the stands?'"

They ended up losing 3-0, and were allowed to return to the country, but as national pariahs.

DR Congo will return to the World Cup this year for the first time in 52 years.

08 of 10

Brazil Suffers a Stunning Loss

With five titles to their name, Brazil has won the most World Cup Championships and are almost always the ones to beat.

So, when they fell 7-1 to Germany on their home turf back in 2014, the world was stunned. Germany managed to score five goals in the opening 29 minutes alone, and would get their last two in the second half. Midfielder Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior, managed to get Brazil, their only goal towards the end of the match.

The team's top players, Neymar Jr. and captain Thiago Silva were out, which many believe was a huge contributing factor to the loss. Neymar had suffered a back injury and Silva was suspended.

09 of 10

The Battle of Nuremberg

The chaos of the Portugal vs. Netherlands match-up of 2006 can't be attributed to one thing.

Dubbed "The Battle of Nuremberg," things began to go south when, just two minutes into the game, Dutch player Mark van Bommel got yellow carded for a lunging foul on Cristiano Ronaldo. A few more tackles later, Ronaldo was forcibly substituted after sustaining a knee injury.

With a handball foul, several heated exchanges between players and even some action from the opposing benches, the game read more like a battle royale than a soccer match. By the time all was said and done, referee Valentin Ivanov had issued a record 16 yellow cards and 4 red cards.

Portugal's Maniche scored the match's only goal.

10 of 10

The Jules Rimet Trophy Gets Stolen

In addition to all the on-field melées that have taken place, the World Cup has also provided some face-palm moments off the field.

Back in 1966, England was the host country when the Jules Rimet Trophy, the original trophy of the World Cup, went missing just months before the tournament was slated to begin, vanishing during an exhibition at the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster.

After Scotland Yard launched a massive investigation, the trophy was discovered by a dog named Pickles seven days later, in bushes outside his owner's home.

Decades later, a man named Gary Cugullere would reveal that his father Reg and uncle Sidney were the men behind the heist.

The trophy would go missing once again in 1983 while Brazil was hosting, after being lifted from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) headquarters. According to the Minnesota United FC website, the heist was conducted by a group of thieves led by Clube Atletico Mineiro agent Sergio Pereira Ayres. The trophy was never recovered.

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