The 30 best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Our picture editor, Jonny Weeks, chooses his favourite images from Russia, including some of the more unusual shots that may not have made the papers

Main image: Ángel di Maria in action for Argentina during the last-16 match against France in Kazan. Photograph: Fred Lee/Getty Images

  • The man of the moment – and eventual young player of the tournament – Kylian Mbappé is embraced after France beat Belgium in the semi final.
    The man of the moment – and eventual young player of the tournament – Kylian Mbappé is embraced after France beat Belgium in the semi final.

  • Tunisia’s Fakhreddine Ben Youssef and England’s Harry Maguire battle for the ball in their opening Group G match in Volgograd. England won 2-1 thanks to Harry Kane’s late winner.
    Tunisia’s Fakhreddine Ben Youssef and England’s Harry Maguire battle for the ball in their opening Group G match in Volgograd. England won 2-1 thanks to Harry Kane’s late winner.

  • Brazil’s forward Neymar falls to the turf – not for the last time – against Switzerland at the Rostov Arena.
    Brazil’s forward Neymar falls to the turf – not for the first time – against Switzerland at the Rostov Arena.

  • Serbia stalwart Branislav Ivanovic lets a young mascot tickle his beard.
    Branislav Ivanovic of Serbia lets a young mascot tickle his beard.

  • Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen watches Toni Kroos’s late winner flash past him in the Group F game against Germany. Kroos looked to have kick-started Germany’s campaign – but they finished bottom of the group.
    Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen watches Toni Kroos’s late winner flash past him.

  • Aliou Cissé, head coach of Senegal, looks on prior to his team’s Group H match with Colombia in Samara. Senegal lost 1-0 and became the first team to exit the World Cup on a fair play tie-break.
    Aliou Cissé, head coach of Senegal, looks on prior to his team’s Group H match with Colombia in Samara.

  • Germany midfielder Sebastian Rudy lies bloodied and awaits medical attention following a nasty collision against Sweden in Sochi.
    Germany midfielder Sebastian Rudy lies bloodied and awaits medical attention following a nasty collision against Sweden in Sochi.

  • Luka Modric runs with the ball against Russia in the quarter-finals. The Croatian captain was named player of the tournament as he led his team to the final.
    Luka Modric runs with the ball against Russia in the quarter-finals. The Croatian captain was named player of the tournament as he led his team to the final.

  • England’s Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and Harry Maguire are wrestled by Panamanian defenders in Nizhny Novgorod. It didn’t do much good – England won 6-1.
    England’s Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and Harry Maguire are wrestled by Panamanian defenders in Nizhny Novgorod.

  • Diego Maradona is pictured soaking up the sunlight – and the crowd’s adulation – prior to the vital Group D game against Nigeria. Maradona was a regular distraction in the stands during Argentina’s run to the last 16.
    Diego Maradona is pictured soaking up the sunlight – and the crowd’s adulation – prior to the vital Group D game against Nigeria.

  • Danijel Subasic is floored after Paul Pogba scores France’s third goal in the final. France won 4-2, the fourth time that scoreline has happened in the final (after 1930, 1938 and 1966).
    Danijel Subasic is floored after Paul Pogba scores France’s third goal in the final.

  • Lionel Messi of Argentina poses for a portrait before the tournament. Photographer Michael Regan revealed that Messi was a reluctant model – “I said ‘can you hold your hands out?’ and he said no.”
    Lionel Messi of Argentina reluctantly poses for a portrait immediately prior to the start of the tournament.

  • Jordan Pickford is swamped by team-mates after his heroic save from Colombia’s Carlos Bacca earned England their first ever World Cup penalty shootout win.
    Jordan Pickford is swamped by team-mates after his heroic save from Colombia’s Carlos Bacca.

  • Oghenekaro Etebo of Nigeria performs an overhead kick against Iceland in Volgograd. Nigeria won 2-0, their only points of the tournament.
    Oghenekaro Etebo of Nigeria performs an overhead kick against Iceland at Volgograd Arena.

  • Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo goes berserk in the last-16 defeat to Uruguay. Ronaldo scored four goals but couldn’t lead his team to a repeat of their Euro 2016 success.
    Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo goes berserk in the last-16 defeat to Uruguay.

  • Harry Kane takes a picture with fans after the last-16 win over Colombia in Moscow’s Spartak Stadium.
    Harry Kane takes a picture with fans after the last-16 win over Colombia in Moscow’s Spartak Stadium.

  • Mousa Dembele of Belgium is captured in a bizarre moment on the substitutes’ bench in their quarter-final against Brazil.
    Mousa Dembele of Belgium is captured in a bizarre moment on the substitutes’ bench in their quarter-final against Brazil.

  • England fans watching the semi-final on a giant screen in south London react as to Ivan Perisic’s equaliser for Croatia.
    England fans watching the semi-final on a giant screen in south London react as to Ivan Perisic’s equaliser for Croatia.

  • Mesut Özil is left reeling after Germany’s loss to South Korea. The defending champions went out in the opening round for the first time since 1938.
    Mesut Özil is left reeling after Germany’s loss to South Korea.

  • Mario Mandzukic heads into his own goal to give France the lead in the final. It’s rare for a camera to be placed in the top corner of the net like this.
    Mario Mandzukic heads into his own goal to give France the lead in the final.

  • Paul Pogba basks in the euphoria of winning the World Cup. The midfielder became, somewhat improbably, the first Manchester United player to score in a World Cup final.
    Paul Pogba basks in the euphoria of winning the World Cup.

  • Ángel Di María is illuminated by sunshine during the last-16 match between France and Argentina. Di María scored a spectacular equaliser but France prevailed 4-3 in a thriller.
    Ángel Di María is illuminated by sunshine during the last-16 match between France and Argentina.

  • England’s forgotten man, Danny Welbeck, in a cryotherapy chamber at the team’s base in Repino.
    England’s forgotten man, Danny Welbeck, in a cryotherapy chamber at the team’s base in Repino.

  • France’s forward Olivier Giroud reacts after missing a chance to score against Belgium. Giroud didn’t score a goal in the entire tournament but ended up on the winning side.
    France’s forward Olivier Giroud reacts after missing a chance to score against Belgium.

  • Gareth Southgate releases years of emotion and his own personal demons from Euro 96 after watching his side overcome Colombia on penalties.
    Gareth Southgate releases years of emotion and his own personal demons from Euro 96 after watching his side overcome Colombia on penalties.

  • Croatia’s supporters celebrate in Zagreb after they score against England.
    Croatia’s supporters celebrate in Zagreb as they score against England.

  • Nigeria midfielder Wilfred Ndidi refreshes himself during the game against Iceland in sweltering Volgograd.
    Nigeria midfielder Wilfred Ndidi refreshes himself during the game against Iceland in sweltering Volgograd.

  • Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic and Branislav Ivanovic celebrate in unusual fashion after their victory over Costa Rica.
    Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic and Branislav Ivanovic celebrate in unusual fashion after their victory over Costa Rica.

  • France’s Kylian Mbappé takes a corner against Peru in Ekaterinburg.
    France’s Kylian Mbappé takes a corner against Peru in Ekaterinburg.

  • Southgate takes a lonely walk across the pitch following England’s defeat to Croatia in the semi-final.
    Southgate takes a lonely walk across the pitch following England’s defeat to Croatia in the semi-final.

  • A sudden downpour made for some fantastic photos as France collected the trophy – including Benjamin Mendy sliding along the turf at Luzhniki Stadium.
    A sudden downpour made for some fantastic photos as France collected the trophy – including Benjamin Mendy sliding along the turf at Luzhniki Stadium.
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