With 33 days remaining until the 2026 World Cup gets underway, we continue revisiting the most stunning goals in World Cup history. Today’s spotlight falls on Swiss star Xherdan Shaqiri.
During Group E of the 2014 Brazil World Cup, Honduras took on Switzerland. Lionel Messi had already cut in from the right and netted two superb goals, and now it was time for the so-called Alpine Messi to seize the spotlight. Switzerland headed into the final group match needing a superior result than Ecuador to progress. Shaqiri stressed the significance of a quick start, aware that the longer the match wore on, the tougher it would get.
Fortunately for Switzerland, they broke the deadlock within mere minutes. The player dubbed the Power Cube used his formidable upper body to shake off Juan Carlos Garcia before firing an unstoppable shot into the top corner. That strike completed the 50th hat-trick in World Cup history and clinched Switzerland’s spot in the Round of 16, arranging a clash between the Alpine Messi and the real Messi in Sao Paulo.
