A young France peak
Didier Deschamps' side blended Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kanté, and the explosive Mbappé, who became the first teenager since Pelé to score in a World Cup final. Croatia, led by Golden Ball winner Luka Modrić, reached a first-ever final.
VAR's debut
2018 was the first World Cup with the Video Assistant Referee, changing how penalties and key calls were reviewed—technology now standard heading into /world-cup-2026.
Top scorer and stories
England's Harry Kane won the Golden Boot with six goals. Russia 2018 also delivered shocks, including holders Germany exiting in the group stage. See the champions history on /world-cup-winners-list.
Related coverage
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2018 World Cup?+
France, beating Croatia 4–2 in the final in Moscow.
Who was top scorer in 2018?+
Harry Kane of England with six goals.
Who won the Golden Ball in 2018?+
Luka Modrić of Croatia.
Was VAR used in 2018?+
Yes—it was the first World Cup to use the Video Assistant Referee.